KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) announced today it will field at least 121 candidates in the 15th general election (GE15), with a view of attempting to gain 112 seats to form a simple majority in Dewan Rakyat.

It announced all its incumbent MPs including the coalition’s chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Parti Pejuang Tanahair president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, and Pejuang secretary-general Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, who will defend Langkawi, Jerlun and Kubang Pasu, respectively.

In his speech, Dr Mahathir also said that the coalition may contest a few more parliamentary seats in addition to the 121 that were announced today.

Among the notable candidates were local celebrities including Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri, Eizlan Yusof and activist Azlan Sani Zawawi or widely known as Lando — they will be contesting in Port Dickson, Sabak Bernam, and Tanjong Karang, respectively.

GTA also announced the former chairman of Islamist coalition Gerakan Pembela Ummah, Aminuddin Yahaya in Temerloh as a representative from the coalition’s component party Gagasan Bangsa.

At least five more former Isma members and leaders were also fielded by GTA, all of them are members of PAS splinter party Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia or Berjasa.

This includes Berjasa president Zamani Ibrahim, a former Seremban Isma chief, contesting in Tampin, and its Youth chief Fahmi Bazlan Muda — formerly Subang Jaya Isma Youth chief — in Kota Raja.

Others were Hamidi Abu Hassan (ex-Seberang Perai Isma chief) in Kepala Batas, Anuar Salleh (ex-Hulu Langat Isma chief) in Bangi, and Nazriq Abdul Rahman (Melaka Tengah Isma member) in Alor Gajah.

When asked about the coalition’s candidate for the prime minister post, Dr Mahathir simply laughed it off and said that it will be decided if GTA wins on November 19.

The veteran politician said that GTA will launch its manifesto in the next few days.