PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) will field candidates in all the parliamentary constituencies in the peninsula and three in Sarawak in the coming general election, a party source said.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin is set to announce the coalition’s candidate line-up tonight at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur at 8pm. 

The announcement will run at about the same time as the Barisan Nasional unveiling its candidates at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. 

“We settled our seat distribution last week. PN will contest 168 seats, including three in Sarawak,” said the source familiar with the coalition’s seat negotiations.

The Malaysian Insight understands that PN lynchpin Bersatu will contest 85 seats while PAS will field candidates in 63 constituencies. The third party in the pact, Gerakan, will contest 20 seats.

“There are some Bersatu seats where non-Malay candidates from the party’s associate wing will be fielded,” said the source.

Last week, Muhyiddin told the media that PN had settled seat negotiations on October 27 and said PN will field candidates in 75% of the 222 parliamentary seats.

The former prime minister has also named some of its candidates, among them, three caretaker ministers – Radzi Jidin (Putrajaya), Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah) and Rina Harun (Sepang), who was named last night.

Sarawak

The source disclosed that the three seats the PN will contest in Sarawak are Saratok and Bintulu, which will be contested by candidates from Bersatu, while a candidate from PAS will be fielded in Batang Lupar.

The Malaysian Insight has reported that incumbent Saratok lawmaker Ali Biju will defend the Iban-majority seat, which he had won on the Pakatan Harapan ticket in the 2018 general election.

Bintulu Bersatu chief Duke Janteng has also indicated his willingness to contest the seat if given the opportunity.

The decision to contest in Saratok and Bintulu will see PN candidates face the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) candidates from the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

PDP chief Tiong King Sing is the incumbent in Bintulu and Tiong had invited Ali to join the party and contest in Saratok as its candidate. But Ali has declined the offer.

Sarawak PAS has earlier announced that it wanted to field candidates in five parliamentary seats – Petra Jaya, Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar and Sibuti.

“PAS will now only contest in Batang Lupar,” said the source.

Batang Lupar is a Muslim-majority seat and PAS counts one of the three state constituencies, Beting Maro, as its stronghold.

Sabah

The seats to be contested by PN in Sabah will not be announced tonight, said the source.

PN will contest some of the 25 parliamentary seats in the state as part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

Apart from Bersatu, the other GRS members are SAPP, STAR, PBS and Usno.

The Election Commission has fixed November 19 for polling, November 5 for nomination while early voting will take place on November 15. – November 1, 2022.