As expected, Zahid axes critics for GE15 race

Several prominent Umno leaders not aligned with their party boss Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have been dropped as candidates, putting the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition at risk of a major rupture as it heads to the general election for the first time since losing power four years ago.

As expected, incumbent MPs Shahidan Kassim, Annuar Musa and Zahidi Zainul Abidin, all of whom have been vocal against the so-called court cluster group of party leaders, were dropped.

Khairy Jamaluddin was retained, but sent to contest in Sungai Buloh, which is not among the seats considered safe for BN. 

In Perak, Zahid loyalist Ashraf Wajdi Dusuki was relocated to Umno's fort of Gerik, while religious teacher Kazim Elias will contest in Larut, where he is expected to clash with Bersatu's Hamzah Zainudin.

In Tambun, Aminuddin Md Hanafiah will be pitted against Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim and incumbent Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

In Selangor, controversial Umno man Jamal Yunos will contest in Sungai Besar and ex-banker-turned finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz will be fielded in Kuala Selangor. Noh Omar, the incumbent for  Tanjung Karang, has been dropped.

In Kuala Lumpur, Umno's Johari Abdul Ghani is expected to take on Amanah's Khalid Samad in Titiwangsa, while Ramlan Askolani will take on Fahmi Fadzil in Lembah Pantai.

In Johor, Umno's Razali Ibrahim is expected to take on Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, while Mohd Helmi Abd Latif will be fielded in Muar, where Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is expected to contest.

The BN candidates for Tanjung Karang, Jempol, Kuala Pilah and Bandar Tun Razak are still under consideration. 

The list of BN candidates for parliamentary seats released tonight is as follows: 

1. Zahida Zarik Khan (Padang Besar)
2. Fathul Bari Mat Jahya (Kangar)
3. Rozabil Abd Rahman (Arau)
4. Armishah Siraj (Langkawi)
5. Othman Aziz (Jerlun)
6. Hasmuni Hassan (Kubang Pasu)
7. Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap)
8. Noran Zamini Jamaluddin (Pokok Sena)
9. Tan Chee Hiong (Alor Setar)
10. Mashitah Ibrahim (Kuala Kedah) 
11. Suraya Yaacob (Pendang)
12. Jamil Khir Baharom (Jerai)
13. Maizatulakmam Othman @ Ibrahim (Sik)
14. Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin (Merbok)
15. Shahanim Mohamad Yusoff (Sungai Petani)
16. Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling)
17. Sivaraj Chandran (Padang Serai)
18. Muhar Hussain (Kulim Bandar Baharu)
19. Mohd Hafiezulniezam Mohd Hasdin (Pengkalan Chepa)
20. Rosmadi ismail (Kota Bharu)
21. Ab Ghani Harun (Pasir Mas)
22. Zulkarnain Yusoff (Rantau Panjang)
23. Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi (Kubang Kerian)
24. Mohd Zain Yasim (Bachok)
25. Marzuani Ardila Ariffin (Ketereh)
26. Bakri @ Mohd Bakri Mustapha (Tanah Merah)
27. Zawawi Othman (Pasir Puteh)
28. Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang)
29. Norwahida Patuan (Jeli)
30. Mohamed Zulkepli Omar (Kuala Krai)
31. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Gua Musang)
32. Nawi Mohamad (Besut)
33. Abdul Rahman Mat Yasin (Setiu)
34. Mohd Zubir Embong (Kuala Terengganu)
35. Jasmira Othman (Marang)
36. Rozi Mamat (Hulu Terengganu)
37. Nurhisam Johari (Dungun)
38. Ahmad Said (Kemaman)
39. Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas)
40. Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (Tasek Gelugor)
41. Tan Chuan Hong (Bagan)
42. Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said (Permatang Pauh)
43. Tan Yang Pang (Bukit Mertajam)
44. Tan Lee Huat (Batu Kawan)
45. Thanenthiran Ramankutty (Nibong Tebal)
46. Razalif Mohamad Zain (Bukit Bendera)
47. Tan Kim Nee (Tanjong)
48. Loganathan Thoraisamy (Jelutong)
49. Wong Chin Chong (Bukit Gelugor)
50. Saw Yee Fung (Bayan Baru)
51. Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (Balik Pulau)
52. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (Gerik)
53. Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Lenggong)
54. Mohammad Kazim Elias (Larut)
55. Imran Mohd Yusof (Parit Buntar)
56. Zul Helmi Ghazali (Bagan Serai)
57. Mohammad Sollehin Mohamad Tajie (Bukit Gantang)
58. Neow Choo Seong (Taiping)
59. Mohd Arrif Abdul Majid (Padang Rengas)
60. S Vigneswaran M Sanasee (Sungai Siput)
61. Aminuddin Md Hanafiah (Tambun)
62. Ng Kai Cheong (Ipoh Timur)
63. Low Guo Nan (Ipoh Barat)
64. Teoh Chin Chong (Batu Gajah)
65. Maslin Sham Razman (Kuala Kangsar)
66. Ding Siew Chee (Beruas)
67. Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit)
68. Lee Chee Leong (Kampar)
69. Ting Zhao Song (Gopeng)
70. M Saravanan (Tapah)
71. Khairul Azwan Harun (Pasir Salak)
72. Zambry Abd Kadir (Lumut)
73. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk)
74. T Murugiah (Teluk Intan)
75. Mah Hang Soon (Tanjong Malim)
76. Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands)
77. Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis)
78. Chong Sin Woon (Raub)
79. Mohd Zukarmi Abu Bakar (Jerantut)
80. Quek Tai Seong (Indera Mahkota)
81. Ab Hamid Mohd Nazahar (Kuantan)
82. Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar)
83. Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (Pekan)
84. Shahaniza Shamsuddin (Maran)
85. Ismail Mohamed Said (Kuala Krau)
86. Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin (Temerloh)
87. Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong)
88. Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera)
89. Hasan Arifin (Rompin)
90. Abd Rahman Bakri (Sabak Bernam)
91. Jamal Md Yunos (Sungai Besar)
92. Y Mohan (Hulu Selangor)
93. Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (Kuala Selangor)
94. Chan Wun Hoong (Selayang)
95. Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (Gombak)
96. Ivone Low Yi Wen (Ampang)
97. Leong Kok Wee (Pandan)
98. Johan Abd Aziz (Hulu Langat)
99. Hoh Hee Lee (Bangi)
100. Syed Ibrahim Kader (Puchong)
101. Kow Cheong Wei (Subang)
102. Chew Hian Tat (Petaling Jaya)
103. Tan Gim Tuan (Damansara)
104. Khairy Jamaluddin (Sungai Buloh)
105. Hizatul Isham Abdul Jalil (Shah Alam)
106. Muhammad Noor Azman @ Noor Hizam (Kapar)
107. Tee Hooi Ling (Klang)
108. D Kajendran (Kota Raja)
109. Mohana Muniandy Raman (Kuala Langat)
110. Anuar Basiran (Sepang)
111. A Kohilan Pillay (Batu)
112. Mohd Shafei Abdullah (Wangsa Maju)
113. Daniel Ling Sia Chin (Segambut)
114. Izudin Ishak (Setiawangsa)
115. Johari Abdul Ghani (Titiwangsa)
116. Tan Teik Peng (Bukit Bintang)
117. Ramlan Shaheah @ Askolani (Lembah Pantai)
118. Lee Kah Hing (Seputeh)
119. Chong Yew Chuan (Cheras)
120. Chew Yin Keen (Bandar Tun Razak)
121. Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Putrajaya)
122. Bashir Alias (Labuan)
123. Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu)
124. Wong Yin Ting (Seremban)
125. Ng Kian Nam (Rasah)
126. Mohamad Hasan (Rembau)
127. P Kamalanathan (Port Dickson)
128. Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (Tampin)
129. Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid (Masjid Tanah)
130. Shahril Sufian Hamdan (Alor Gajah)
131. Lim Ban Hong (Tangga Batu)
132. Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali (Hang Tuah Jaya)
133. Kon Qi Yao (Kota Melaka)
134. Roslan Ahmad (Jasin)
135. M Ramasamy (Segamat)
136. Md Salleheen Mohamad (Sekijang)
137. Chua Tee Yong (Labis)
138. Razali Ibrahim (Pagoh)
139. Hamim Samuri (Ledang)
140. Lee Ching Yong (Bakri)
141. Mohd Helmy Abd Latif (Muar)
142. Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong)
143. Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam)
144. Mohd Lassim Burhan (Sri Gading)
145. Ishak @ Mohd Farid Siraj (Batu Pahat)
146. Hasni Mohammad (Simpang Renggam)
147. Gan Ping Shou @ Gan Ping Sieu (Kluang)
148. Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong)
149. Abd Latif Bandi @ Nor Sebandi (Mersing)
150. Manndzri Nasib (Tenggara)
151. Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Kota Tinggi)
152. Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang)
153. Wong Siaw Ting (Temrau)
154. Noor Azleen Ambros (Pasir Gudang)
155. Johan Arifin Mohd Ropi (Johor Bahru)
156. Nur Jazlan Mohamed (Pulai)
157. Teoh Sew Hock (Iskandar Puteri)
158. Chua Jian Boon (Kulai)
159. Ahmad Maslan (Pontian)
160. Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjong Piai)