KLUANG: Barisan Nasional is in the final stages of determining its candidate for the Mahkota by-election, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president said the candidate will be announced at the same time as the launch of election machinery.
"Let us observe National Day first. We are now in the final stages (of candidate selection)," he told a press conference here on Friday (Aug 30) at the launch of the e-Perkasa programme.
At the Umno general assembly on Aug 22, both the party's Youth and Wanita wings asked for the opportunity to field a candidate in the by-election.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the wing should be given the chance following the stunning success in the recent Nenggiri by-election, which was won by Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani.
Meanwhile, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the candidate should be from the women's wing to continue the legacy of the late Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain.
The Election Commission has set Sept 28 as polling day for the Mahkota by-election, while nomination and early voting have been set for Sept 14 and 24, respectively.
The seat fell vacant after Sharifah Azizah passed away on Aug 2 at age 63.
The former Johor Wanita Umno chief won the seat with a 5,166-vote majority in the March 2022 state election.
