KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Barisan Nasional (BN) plans to contest 45 per cent of 245 seats while the remaining 55 per cent will be contested by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming state elections in six states.
Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported the deputy prime minister as saying that the seat distribution is based on the seats won by BN and PH in the 14th general election.
“That’s why the percentage is more towards the parties in the PH component in the six states,” he told reporters during an event in Pantai Penunjuk, Kemaman, Terengganu, yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said all BN candidates will go through a screening process including checks by Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Syariah Court.
“We’re going to do the screening in terms of winning, acceptance, and how voters support the candidates. When the shortlist is made, we will also do a health screening to ensure that each candidate is in good health,” he said.
He also said the decision on seat distribution between both coalitions would be finalised next week.
“A total of nine overlapping seats in the nine state constituencies in the previously affected states can also be resolved,” he added.
