KUANTAN: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's eldest son, Datuk Nizar Mohd Najib will be making his electoral debut, contesting the Peramu Jaya state seat in the 15th General Elections (GE15).
Peramu Jaya is one of the state seats under the Pekan parliamentary seat, which was held by Najib, who was former prime minister, previously.
Nizar will be among the 27 new faces Barisan Nasional (BN) is poised to showcase for Pahang in GE15.
Pahang Barisan Nasional(BN) chairman, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who will defend his Jelai state seat which he has held since 2004, said besides the 27 state seat candidates, eight new faces will be making their debut at the parliamentary seats.
"Sixty-three percent of the candidates fielded in Pahang are new faces. Two young candidates below 45-years-old will be contesting the parliament seats while 15 others will be contesting at state seats.
"BN will be fielding eight women candidates in GE15. BN candidates includes professionals, thus dismissing talks that only division chiefs will have the opportunity to be picked in the elections," he said in his speech before announcing the candidates at a hotel here today.
During the announcement, Wan Rosdy did not announce the candidates for the Cheka and Sabai state seats, which was previously contested by MCA and MIC, respectively.
State deputy speaker Datuk Seri Mohamed Jaafar(Jenderak), former state executive council members Datuk Seri Norol Azali Sulaiman(Guai) and Datuk Seri Shahiruddin Ab Moin (Dong) along with Datuk Mohd Fadhil Osman(Kemayan) , Datuk Md Suhaimi Mohamed Shah(Sungai Lembing) and Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob(Pelangai) are among the six dropped.
Apart from Nizar, the new faces also include Wan Rosdy's press secretary Fadzli Mohamad Kamal(Dong), MCA Publicity Bureau deputy chairman Wong Siew Mun (Bilut) and Indera Mahkota Umno division chairman Datuk Mustaffar Kamal Hamid(Beserah).
The other new faces representing MCA are Wong Yap Wah (Tanah Rata), Lim Teck Hoe(Tras), Wong Tze Shiang(Mentakab) and Tee Choon Ser(Teruntum).
The Umno candidates are Faezah Ishak (Tahan), Muhamad Fasal Jamlus (Damak), Khairul Hisham Omar (Semambu), Nara@Nikman Nordin (Tanjung Lumpur) and Datuk Umar Arbain Dollah (Sungai Lembing).
Others in the list are Fauziah Abd Wahab( Panching), Jamaluddin Md. Marzuki (Luit), Mohd Khairuddin Mohd Ali Hanafiah (Kuala Sentul) and Saiful Anuar Mokhtar (Chenor), Rodzuan Zaaba (Jenderak), Nor Hasmimi Abdul Ghani (Jengka), Razmi Sudin (Lanchang), Datuk Amizar Abu Adam (Ketari), Datuk Seri Johari Harun (Pelangai).
New faces will be fielded in the three state constituencies under the Bera parliamentary seat where caretaker prime minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is the incumbent. They are Datuk Sabariah Saidin (Guai), Yee Cheng Hwa (Triang) and Khaizulnizam Mohamad Zuldin (Kemayan).
Meanwhile, for parliament seats, former four-term Bentong MP Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai who lost during the 14th general election will be fielded in Bentong alongside MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon, who will contest in Raub while Datuk Quek Tai Seong has been picked for Indera Mahkota.
Two former state executive council members, Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin and Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsudin, have been picked to contest the Temerloh and Maran parliament seats, respectively.
The other newcomers are Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Nazahar (Kuantan), Datuk Mohd Zukarmi Abu Bakar (Jerantut) and Datuk Seri Sh Mohamed Puzi Sh Ahmad in Pekan.