Despite being picked as the menteri besar for Johor by the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat should it win over Johor in the 13th general election, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub has no intention for the post in the coming election.

This is because, he said, he preferred to be in the federal government, should Pakatan Harapan win Putrajaya.

“If I have a choice, I want to be in the federal government. It's not my intention. At the end of the day, it is the people who will decide,” Salahuddin told reporters this afternoon when asked whether he intended to take on as Johor menteri besar, should Harapan win the state.

Salahuddin also confirmed he would be contesting in the parliamentary seat of Pulai again, expecting to take on incumbent Nur Jazlan Mohammad.

“I am staying in Pulai. Because I stood there in the last general election. I think it's time for me to fight Nur Jazlan again,” he said, adding that he believes a Malay tsunami would sweep against Umno.

Previously, Salahuddin had said he was willing to give up Pulai in exchange for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat, which has since been allocated to Bersatu.

Located 50km from urban Pulai, the rural Tanjung Piai is Salahuddin's birthplace.

In the 13th general election, the former PAS vice-president lost the Pulai parliamentary seat to Nur Jazlan, who is deputy home minister, by 3,226 votes.

Salahuddin also lost in the Nusajaya state seat, by 2,201 votes.

It is speculated that Salahuddin will take on parliamentary and state seats again this round by contesting for the seat of Pulai and the state seat of Simpang Jeram (formerly Sungai Abong). Both are located in Johor.

Malaysiakini reported that Harapan may announce its candidate for the post of Johor menteri besar candidate tonight, and that it would also take into consideration the view of Johor's powerful royalty.