Most BN component parties, including Umno, have already submitted a shortlist of candidates for the 14th general election, said Umno acting deputy president and BN deputy chairperson, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Star today quoted him saying that Umno and BN had set up an independent body to narrow down the list of candidates, and this vetting method had proved successful in the Sungai Besar, Kuala Kangsar, and Tanjung Datu by-elections.

Nevertheless, the final decision rests on BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak.

"Datuk Seri Najib has the answer (on who will be BN's candidates).

"Nonetheless, Umno will have more new and women candidates this time around," he reportedly told The Star in an interview in his office.

The report also quoted Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing confirming that PRS had submitted its list of candidates.

Meanwhile, Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng was quoted saying that 98 percent of his party's list had been finalised, with one or two seats still being discussed.

Its current list is for 12 parliamentary seats and 33 state seats, and have been submitted to the chief ministers of the respective states to be forwarded to the prime minister, he was quoted as saying.

MIC secretary-general A Sakthivel also confirmed that his party had submitted its list of candidates, with at least four nominees for each seat.

As for Parti Bersatu Sabah, its acting president Maximus Ongkili reportedly said the party had submitted some names, but its list has not been finalised.