IPOH: Perikatan Nasional has identified its candidate for Kuala Kubu Baharu and will make an official announcement soon, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
The coalition's deputy chairman said it was aware that it would be going into the by-election as an underdog but added that it is confident it could get the support of the electorate in the Malay-majority area, which also has a significant number of Indian and Orang Asli voters.
ALSO READ: Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election polling day set for May 11
Faizal, who is also Bersatu deputy president, said the seat had been held by DAP for several terms under the same state assemblyman.
“So a battle is definitely (ahead of us)," he told reporters at the Dukut Maharajo descendants' Hari Raya gathering at Kampung Kepayang here on Wednesday (April 10).
“The frequently-asked question is who will be the candidate from Perikatan. What I can say is that when we send in a candidate, it will be from Perikatan – not from Bersatu, PAS or Gerakan.
ALSO READ: Perikatan buoyed by past poll results for Kuala Kubu Baharu seat, DAP yet to decide on candidate
“The question about which party the candidate comes from does not arise. We have supreme council meetings almost monthly, and have identified the candidate," he added.
Ahmad Faizal said being a local with an acceptable education level are important criteria for selecting a potential candidate.
The Election Commission (EC) has set May 11 as polling day, with nomination and early voting on April 27 and May 7 respectively.
ALSO READ: Kuala Kubu Baharu rep dies
The seat fell vacant following the death of DAP's Lee Kee Hiong on March 21.
Lee, 58, who was assemblyman there since 2013, had battled cancer for several years.
She won the seat with a majority of 4,119 votes in last year's state election, defeating Perikatan's Teoh Kien Hong.
The by-election is the seventh to be held after GE15 in 2022.
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