Negeri Sembilan GTA deputy chairman Jani Ismail also said former CEO of the national film development corporation (Finas) Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri has been proposed for the Port Dickson seat.

“Both names are in the shortlist of candidates which I have presented to the leadership,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying, adding that GTA’s top leadership will have the final say on their candidacy.

Jani, who is also the Negeri Sembilan Pejuang chief, said GTA needed to field big names like the duo in order to put up a strong fight for the two parliamentary seats.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan is widely expected to contest for the Rembau seat, which had been held for three terms by Khairy Jamaluddin. PKR president Anwar Ibrahim was the most recent Port Dickson MP.

Jani said Negeri Sembilan GTA welcomed the possibility of working with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in GE15, as it would strengthen its election machinery and help in achieving a win at the polls.

Hamid, originally from Rembau, retired from the police force in May 2021, and has a farm in his hometown.

GTA comprises Pejuang, Berjasa, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman). Formed on Aug 4, it also includes NGOs, academics and professionals.

The coalition will be contesting in GE15 under Pejuang’s banner since it has yet to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).