GE14 | Penang Umno is undaunted by the prospect of facing PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, which has been in her family since her father Anwar Ibrahim first won it in 1982.

It is confident that BN candidate and Permatang Pauh resident Zaidi Mohd Said is capable of causing an upset.

"Our candidate will put up a strong challenge.There will be a tough fight, and it will be shocking to her (Nurul Izzah)," said Penang Umno liaison committee chairperson Zainal Abidin Osman.

"We welcome Nurul Izzah to Permatang Pauh," he told reporters.

Zaidi, who is also the Permatang Pauh Umno division chief, said he has been working on the ground for several years and is familiar with the issues in the constituency.

"Nurul Izzah is considered new in Permatang Pauh, besides PKR is in a mess now, with PAS no longer supporting them.

"Anyway, our manifesto is better than Pakatan Harapan's," he added.

Nurul Izzah, who is the two-term incumbent Lembah Pantai lawmaker, will be replacing her mother and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in Permatang Pauh.

Teng goes looking for 'trouble'

During a press conference after announcing the candidates, state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow also commented on his opponent from DAP, Zairil Khir Johari, for the Tanjung Bungah state seat.

"He can write well, I hope he can serve well, too," said the Gerakan leader.

Responding to a question, Teng said he had deliberately picked the "trouble seat" due to the numerous environmental and civil movement issues.

"Under the current government, these issues have been neglected and there is a lack of consultation with the people. They no longer emphasise on the civil movement.

"We also looked into the voter profile in the area. There are 60 percent Chinese voters and 26 percent Malays, the same composition is reflected in Gerakan," he added.

Teng announced that BN has fielded 30 new and 23 old faces for the parliamentary and state seats in Penang.

Forty percent of Umno candidates are new while Gerakan has fielded 35 percent of new faces, MCA 75 percent and MIC 100 percent.

Out of 53 candidates, 10 are incumbents and 12 are recontesting their former seats. Seven candidates are aged below 40 years, with the youngest at 31, and the oldest, 70.

The coalition is also fielding six women candidates.

MCA and Gerakan swapped two seats, Jawi and Machang Bubok, respectively.