JOHOR BARU, Feb 24 — Former Johor mentri besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal will lead the 56-candidate Perikatan Nasional (PN) line-up for the upcoming state elections.

The 47-year-old medical doctor will defend his Bukit Kepong state seat, where he is also the incumbent.

PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced Dr Sahruddin’s candidacy at the coalition’s announcement ceremony for its Johor state election candidates at Pulai Springs Resort in Pulai here today.

He also announced the list of candidates who will represent PN in all 56 seats on March 12.

Among the other candidates are Johor PAS commissioner Abdullah Husin who will contest Pulai Sebatang.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth leader Ahmad Nawfal Mahfodz will be fielded as the candidate for Parit Yaani.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) associate deputy chief Dr Chong Fat Full was also announced as the candidate for Tangkak.

He was previously the Pemanis incumbent as a PKR candidate in the 14th general election (GE14).

Other notable names include veteran Bersatu politician Tosrin Jarvanthi who is set to defend his Bukit Permai seat.

Earlier, Muhyiddin said all candidates have been vetted by the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Insolvency Department.

"This is to avoid last-minute problems with PN candidates.

"Rest assured, these are the best candidates that PN has for Johoreans,” he said in his opening speech.

Muhyiddin also called for all the candidates to keep the interests of the people at heart and to fight against corruption and abuse of power.

"The candidates we have chosen are worthy but they must remember the virtues of good governance and accountability,” he said.

The Election Commission has set early voting for March 8. Nomination is this Saturday.

Here is the list of 56 PN candidates that were announced this evening:

1. Buloh Kasap — Norazman Md Diah
2. Jementah — Maimunah Safwah Musa
3. Pemanis — Uzzair Ismail
4. Kemelah — Normala Sudirman
5. Tenang — Ahmad Humaizi Udin
6. Bekok — Tan Lek Khang
7. Bukit Kepong — Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal
8. Bukit Pasir — Nur Iqbal Abd Razak
9. Gambir — Solihan Badri
10. Tangkak — Dr Chong Fat Full
11. Serom — Rahmat Daud
12. Bentayan — Tan Kok Hong
13. Simpang Jeram — Zarul Salleh
14. Bukit Naning — Mahadzir Abu Said
15. Maharani — Aziz Talib
16. Sungai Balang — Zainudin Sayuti
17. Semerah — Datuk Ariss Samsudin
18. Sri Medan — Othman Kepol
19. Yong Peng — Yong Fui Ling
20. Semarang — Shazani Hamid
21. Parit Yaani — Ahmad Nawfal Mahfodz
22. Parit Raja — Zulkifli Mat Daud
23. Penggaram — Sia Wee Yet
24. Senggarang — Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil
25. Rengit — Mohammad Hazair Lajis
26. Machap — Azlisham Azahar
27. Layang-layang — Alagathiran Krishnan
28. Mengkibol — Wong Chan Giap
29. Mahkota — Mohamad Nor Lingan
30. Paloh — Selvendran Velu
31. Kahang — Daud Yusof
32. Endau — Alwiyah Talib
33. Tenggaroh — Roslan Nikmat
34. Panti — Hasan Rasid
35. Pasir Raja — Jawahir Husein
36. Sediili — Hasnolhadi Mohd Sebalas
37. Johor Lama — Alias Rasman
38. Penawar — Faizal Asmar
39. Tanjung Surat — Selamat Ujud
40. Tiram — Karim Deraman
41. Puteri Wangsa — Loh Kah Yong
42. Johor Jaya — Datuk Dr Ker Ching Sheng
43. Permas — Arifin Nasri
44. Larkin — Zulkifli Bujang
45. Stulang — Yap Chiang Youis
46. Perling — Khoo Siaw Lee
47. Kempas — Faizal Abdullah
48. Skudai — Khoo Kong Ek
49. Kota Iskandar — Samsudin Ismail
50. Bukit Permai — Tosrin Jarvanthi
51. Bukit Batu — Tan Heng Choon
52. Senai — Yeo Kwee Kwang
53. Benut — Isa Ab Hamid
54. Pulai Sebatang — Abdullah Husin
55. Pekan Nanas — Tan Chin Hock
56. Kukup — Mahathir Iskandar Muhammad