Bersatu has announced 24 candidates for the Negeri Sembilan state election on Aug 1, with the party set to contest under its own logo following its split with PAS and growing differences within Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The candidate list, unveiled by party president Muhyiddin Yassin, will see Bersatu compete directly against PAS in Serting, Ampangan, Paroi and Bagan Pinang. Except for Ampangan, the other three seats were won by PAS in the 2023 state election.
Bersatu will also face Parti Wawasan Negara, led by opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, in Klawang, Sikamat, Mambau and Gemas.
However, the party will not compete against Gerakan in Bukit Kepayang, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party in Lukut, or PAS’ non-Muslim wing in Lobak.
Among the prominent candidates are information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz (Sikamat), associate wing chief R Sri Sanjeevan (Jeram Padang), state chief Hanifah Abu Baker (Labu), and Malaysian Paralympic Council president Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin (Seri Menanti).
Bersatu also announced that two Urimai members, N Sarawanan and R Mahendran, will contest under the party’s banner in Mambau and Seremban Jaya respectively.
Muhyiddin signals new political alliance
Speaking at the candidate announcement, Muhyiddin said Bersatu would establish a new political alliance after the Negeri Sembilan election, indicating that the party was preparing for a new political direction.
He said the proposed coalition would include other parties, including members of Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR), such as Putra and Urimai, and would contest the next general election.
“After this state election, Bersatu will no longer be alone. We will form a new grand coalition,” he said.
Criticism of PAS and PN
Muhyiddin accused PAS, which leads PN, of steering the coalition away from its original struggle and sidelining Bersatu through attacks on the party’s leadership.
He said PAS had ended political cooperation with Bersatu last month despite both parties remaining PN component members. PAS also did not assist Bersatu during the Johor state election campaign before leading PN into an electoral pact with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Negeri Sembilan polls.
Under the arrangement, BN will contest 25 of the 36 state seats, while PN will field candidates in the remaining 11.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu was confident of contesting under its own logo for the first time, citing the party’s nationwide network of 700,000 members, more than 4,000 branches and 180 divisions.
