UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan has said he will most likely defend this Rantau state seat in the upcoming Negri Sembilan state assembly election.

The Defence Minister, who is the incumbent for the Rantau seat, said he was ready to make way for a new face but so far no other candidate wanted to contest the seat he had won since the 2004 general election (GE).

“Many want me to contest in the Rantau seat, many want me to represent them. I will make a decision before July 29, as of today no one wants to contest, I want to highlight a new face, but they themselves refuse,” he told reporters after officiating the Rembau parliamentary constituency Youth Career Carnival at the Dewan Agora Rembau.

The former Menteri Besar first won the Rantau seat in the 2004 state election.

He served as the Menteri Besar until the collapse of the BN state administration in May 2018.

In the last general election Mohamad or Tok Mat as he is popularly know retained the Rembau parliamentary seat and was subsequently made the defence minister in the unity government.

Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said that he will defend his Chennah seat in the election.

Loke said he decided to contest the seat after taking into account local sentiments and the political situation in the country.

He added that a poll among voters in the constituency showed 70% of voters want him to continue representing them.

“Of course, the highest support is from among the Chinese community, which is at 90%.

“What also encouraged me is that according to the survey results, I have strong support among Malay voters at more than 50% approval rating,” he said in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, today.

Negri Sembilan was the only state to dissolve its assembly after completing its full term, where Pakatan Harapan held 36 seats, DAP had 11, PKR (six) and Amanah (three). Barisan Nasional had 16 seats

Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negri Sembilan will go to the polls on August 12, with nominations set for July 29 and early voting on August 8. –  July 15, 2023.