KUALA LUMPUR: As political juggernauts Barisan Nasional unveils its list of candidates tonight, it will no doubt be casting a wary eye on Perikatan Nasional (PN), who will also be announcing its contenders for the 15th General Election (GE15).
PN, formed in the wake of the collapse of the 22-month Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, has had an oft uneasy alliance with its partners, including Umno, which never formally recognised the coalition despite later having an Umno prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Umno and Barisan Nasional have since made a clean break for GE15, becoming direct opponents against PN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the polls.
Spearheaded by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PN is not expected to announce any major reshuffles in its top candidates list in what would be the coalition's ever foray into national elections.
PN president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu chairman, will be announcing the candidates list at the Malaysia International Trade Exhibition Centre (MITEC) tonight.
Muhyiddin, together with several other senior PN leaders, will not have an easy ride in GE15. With the departure of several key leaders from PN prior to the elections, the coalition is expected to experience severe opposition in its bid to capture the federal leadership.
Muhyddin, almost certain to defend his Pagoh parliamentary seat, will likely go up against BN's former Muar MP Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim of Umno.
PH had already announced that it would be fielding PKR's Iskandar Shah Abdul Rahman for the seat.
A tough fight is also on the cards for Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who will be defending his Gombak seat.
Azmin, who is former Selangor menteri besar, is set to lock horns with current Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari of PH.
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, meanwhile, has a mammoth task on his hands,staving off a challenge by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as part of PH's attempt to capture Perak.
With the departures of Datuk Seri Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is now with Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), as well as former Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen at Tangga Batu, it remains to be seen who PN will be fielding in these seats.
Bersatu's allies Pas, which had earlier courted a partnership with Umno, only to be rebuffed, had declared that it would be contesting more than 60 parliamentary seats this time around.
Pas is expected to place the majority of its candidates in the Malay heartland states of Kedah, Kelantan and Penang.
It has also had a rough time ahead the candidates' announcements, with some stalwarts having aired their displeasure at being dropped as candidates.
Its Tumpat division is reportedly in disarray after the former MP, Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, was allegedly dropped from the candidates list, sparking uproar from the division's supporters.
Speculation is also rife that Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, son of late Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, has been dropped from defending his Bachok seat, thus fuelling rumours that he could contest on a BN ticket instead.
Gerakan president Dominic Lau, meanwhile, had already previously confirmed that he would be challenging for a seat, yet unnamed, in its former stronghold of Penang.
