KOTA BARU: The guessing game for who will be Barisan Nasional (BN)'s candidate for Nenggiri by-election will be over soon.
A source says State Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, who is also operations director for Nenggiri by-election will make an announcement this evening.
"The announcement will be made at the State Umno building here, with attendance from other party leaders," said the source.
It is believed that the party will field a young candidate for the state seat, also a party division leader.
The source said a young candidate is the best choice as 62.5% of the voters in Nenggiri state seat are from the youth group.
"This selected young candidate meets the party's criteria and connects with voters," the source added.
It is learnt that Gua Musang Umno division recently picked its youth chief Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani to represent the party.
His name is among three shortlisted candidates.
Apart from Azmawi, who is also Kelantan Umno Youth chief, the others being considered are Gua Musang information chief Amran Arifin and its Wanita Umno chief, Nor Fadzlete Aryani Mat Rosli.
Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Umno candidate for the Nenggiri by-election will be announced this week.
He also said that the candidate would be a local from the constituency and hold a position in the party's division there.
"We will choose the best candidate, a 'WALI' candidate: winnable, acceptable, and likable, who can provide the best service for Nenggiri," said Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister.
On July 14, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the young candidate would possess on-the-ground experience.
This was a day after Zahid had identified one of three shortlisted candidates to contest in the by-election.
The nomination of candidates for the by-election will be held on Aug 3, while early voting will take place on Aug 13.
The by-election was set after the seat was declared vacated by Kelantan state assembly speaker, Mohd Amar Abdullah, on June 19, following the former Bersatu member and current Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, declaring his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim late last year.