KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Mahkota state seat will be determined next week, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Umno president said that he would hold a meeting with Johor Umno and Barisan leadership to finalise the candidacy.
“Once we have the name, the Umno political bureau will look into it.
“We will then proceed to inform the unity government secretariat of our candidate,” he told reporters here yesterday.
The Mahkota state seat was declared vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
The Election Commission has set nomination day on Sept 14 and polling on Sept 28.
There were reports of cracks between Johor Amanah and Umno on which party will contest for the Mahkota by-election.
This was put to rest when Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that the coalition would not be contesting for the seat.
Saifuddin said that Pakatan top leadership had come to an agreement that the by-election would be contested by Barisan.
He added Barisan had done the same during the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat by-elections in September last year.
Pakatan will give their full support to the Barisan candidate, he added.
