KUALA LUMPUR: A Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate will contest in the upcoming Mahkota by-election, as agreed upon by the unity government parties.
Confirming this, BN chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the candidate for the by-election would be from the incumbent party.
"We are confident in our ability to retain the Mahkota seat, and we are committed to maintaining coordination among all parties in the unity government.
"I don't want statements issued by top or grassroots leaders demanding the seat to be allocated to (their) party, or any statements that could lead to a perception suggesting (that)," he told reporters at SME Corp today.
He said that Umno's political bureau and supreme council would be holding a meeting to finalise the candidate, with the discussion to be presented at the unity government secretariat meeting.
The Election Commission (EC) has set the Mahkota by-election for Sept 28.
Nomination day is on Sept 14, and early voting is set for Sept 24.
The seat became vacant following the death of its previous assemblyman, Umno's Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, on Aug 2.