Muhyiddin names PN candidates for Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-elections

Perikatan Nasional (PN) today named vascular and endovascular surgeon Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya as its candidate for the Simpang Jeram state seat and businessman Zulkifli Jaafar for the Pulai parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-elections.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, who made the announcement, said the two candidates were finalised after taking into account all factors and views of the parties within PN.

"Both parties, Bersatu and PAS, have committees that evaluate the candidates based on several criteria, such as qualifications, experience, nature, activities, and others.

"It is not decided by one person; PAS has a system; Bersatu has a system (to evaluate) after the divisions and branches have listed the potential candidates. We will decide on only one person for the contested area," the Bersatu president told reporters after the ceremony to name the two PN candidates in Johor Bahru today.

He said both Mazri and Zulkifli were leaders in their respective areas and of calibre and integrity.

Mazri, 54, who is a PAS central committee member and former Johor PAS deputy commissioner, contested the Simpang Jeram state seat and the Pulai parliamentary seat in the 14th general election.

Zulkifli, 50, who is also Bersatu's Pulai Division deputy chief, is, meanwhile, a new face. He has 26 years of experience doing business in the field of logistics and transport.

Muhyiddin said PN did not offer a specific manifesto for the by-elections but would explain how it would deal with specific issues concerning the people of Johor, for example, poverty and cost of living issues.