Hot seats to watch

South-east Asia editor Reme Ahmad highlights some of the hot battles to watch in the general election.

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong is the incumbent MP for Ayer Hitam.
DAP’s Johor chief Liew Chin Tong will be contesting Ayer Hitam in a three-way fight.
Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is the incumbent MP for Pagoh.
Mr Salahuddin Ayub of Parti Amanah Negara is the opposition alliance’s candidate for Pulai.
Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong of BN will defend his seat in Teluk Intan.
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, the Bentong incumbent, faces a three-way fight.
DAP’s Mr Wong Tack will face off against Mr Liow in a rematch in Bentong.

1 Johor

AYER HITAM

• Incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) MP Wee Ka Siong, deputy president of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

• Mr Liew Chin Tong, Johor chief for Democratic Action Party (DAP), a member of Pakatan Harapan (PH)

• Mr Mardi Marwan of PAS

Dr Wee and Mr Liew play major roles in their parties. A defeat will be read as a big blow to their parties.

PAGOH

• Incumbent MP Muhyiddin Yassin, president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). He co-founded the new party after being sacked from Umno amid the 1MDB scandal. He is also contesting the Johor state seat of Gambir for the first time (PH)

• Mr Ismail Mohamed, who took over the Pagoh Umno division as acting chief to replace Tan Sri Muhyiddin. He was moved from a Johor state seat (BN)

• Mr Ahmad Nawfal Mahfodz, a first-time candidate for PAS, is one of the youngest candidates in the elections. His father Mahfodz Mohamed, chief of PAS' ulama (clerics) wing, is challenging Mr Muhyiddin for the Gambir state seat.

PPBM will test Malay voters' loyalty to BN in Pagoh. A win here could herald a wider Malay voter swing towards the opposition.

PULAI

• Incumbent MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy Home Minister from Umno (BN)

• Mr Salahuddin Ayub, deputy president of Parti Amanah Negara (PH)

• Cardiologist Mohd Mazri Yahya of PAS

• Mr Yap Keng Tak , an independent

This is a second-round match for the BN and PH contenders.

Mr Salahuddin is the most senior official in his party taking part in the opposition thrust into Johor.

A win should help Mr Nur Jazlan secure a full ministerial post.


2 Kedah

LANGKAWI

• Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, president of PPBM and chairman of PH

• Incumbent MP Nawawi Ahmad, Umno Langkawi division chief (BN)

• PAS Langkawi chief Zubir Ahmad

The contest in Langkawi will be closely watched as former premier Mahathir needs to win to secure his passage to Putrajaya as the opposition alliance's prime minister candidate.


3 Perak

TELUK INTAN

• Incumbent MP and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mah Siew Keong , president of Gerakan (BN)

• Mr Nga Kor Ming, chairman of DAP Perak (PH)

• Dr Ahmad Ramadzan, PAS coordinator for the seat Gerakan, once the party that ruled Penang, is today left with few seats, including Teluk Intan.


4 Pahang

BENTONG

• Incumbent and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, president of MCA (BN)

• Mr Wong Tack, environmental activist from DAP (PH)

• PAS Supporters Club chairman N. Balasubramaniam

This is a rematch between Datuk Seri Liow and Mr Wong. In 2013, the former won by the narrowest of margins, just 379 votes.

INDERA MAHKOTA

• Mr Nasrudin Hassan, PAS information chief

• Mr Saifuddin Abdullah, PKR, also chief secretary of PH secretariat

• Dr Johan Mat Sah of BN This seat will see a hot rematch between old rivals Mr Nasrudin and Datuk Saifuddin that could split the opposition vote, benefitting BN. Mr Nasrudin beat Mr Saifuddin by just 1,070 votes in 2013 in the federal Parliament seat of Temerloh in the same state.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 29, 2018, with the headline Hot seats to watch. Subscribe