He said the candidates would include new faces comprising professionals and youths.

“We have listened to the requests of the grassroots who want more professionals and youths to be given a chance to contest in the state elections,” the caretaker menteri besar told reporters after an event in Iskandar Puteri today.

On the percentage of new faces who would be fielded, Hasni, who is also Johor Umno chief, said it was difficult to set because of the size of the state.

“Johor is a big state, so it is difficult for us to set any ratio for new candidates (to be fielded), unlike in the Melaka elections where 80% were new faces,” he said,

Hasni clarified that BN needed to identify potential candidates from among a large number of representatives.

“The womens’ wing have also spoken up and asked to be given the opportunity (to contest). So, that also needs to be taken into account,” he added.

According to Hasni, Umno was in the final stages of discussions on the distribution of seats with its coalition partners, MCA and MIC, as well as with “friends of BN”.

Meanwhile, Hasni said he would defend the Benut state seat in the coming polls.

“I will continue the struggle in Benut and at the same time BN will contest in all seats,” he added.

Johor will go to the polls on March 12 with early voting taking place on March 8, and nomination day set for Feb 26.