Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) has fielded a fully non–Baby Boomer lineup for the Johor state election, with all 15 candidates announced by the party aged 62 and below.
Bersama leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said the candidates were selected through a strict screening process and come from diverse professional backgrounds, including community activists, entrepreneurs, doctors, architects and lawyers.
He said 73 individuals had applied to contest under the party banner, but only those deemed to have strong leadership potential and credible public standing were chosen.
“We want to show that candidate selection is not about producing more politicians. We want ordinary people who can genuinely represent the voice of ordinary Malaysians,” he said during the candidate announcement and campaign truck launch in Johor Bahru.
Rafizi added that Bersama’s first entry into the Johor state election is intended to introduce a different style of politics centred on grassroots representation rather than career politicians.
All 15 candidates have declared their assets, income and expenditure through statutory declarations. They also signed four additional statutory pledges and a conditional resignation letter, including agreement to a RM2 million penalty bond if they breach the party’s anti-hopping commitment.
Bersama will contest 15 seats, including Bukit Naning, Mahkota, Tiram, Puteri Wangsa, Johor Jaya, Permas, Larkin, Stulang, Perling, Kempas, Skudai, Kota Iskandar, Bukit Permai, Bukit Batu and Senai.
The Election Commission has set July 11 as polling day for the Johor state election, with nomination day on June 27 and early voting on July 7.
