JOHOR BAHRU, June 3 — Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) has dismissed as fake a purported list of the coalition’s candidates for the upcoming state election that has been circulating on social media since this afternoon.

Johor BN secretary Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman said the list was fabricated by irresponsible parties to fuel speculation and confuse party members.

He said the candidate selection process for all 56 state seats has yet to be finalised by the party’s top leadership.

“I urge all parties, especially BN members and supporters, not to be influenced by the list being circulated. It is purely fabricated. Our focus now is on strengthening the party machinery at the grassroots level,” he told Bernama when contacted last night. 

Abdul Halim said any official announcement on the candidates who will represent BN in the state election would only be made through the coalition’s official channels at the appropriate time.

A list purportedly containing BN’s candidates for all 56 state constituencies went viral on social media today, including the name of Machap assemblyman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

Earlier, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the candidate list submitted to him would be finalised after discussions with leaders of the coalition’s component parties.

The Johor State Legislative Assembly was dissolved yesterday, paving the way for the 16th state election, with BN expected to contest all 56 seats.  — Bernama