BAGAN DATUK – Barisan Nasional (BN) is set to reveal its candidate for the Ayer Kuning by-election a week before nomination day, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed.
The candidate has been chosen from a shortlist of six names submitted by the Tapah Umno division, with input from the state liaison committee. “I hope the selected candidate meets the expectations of Ayer Kuning residents and voters, allowing us to replicate our past by-election successes,” said Zahid, who also serves as deputy prime minister.
On BN’s cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the by-election, Zahid, who is also Umno president, assured that both coalitions, along with BN component parties, have reached a mutual understanding.
Polling for the Ayer Kuning by-election is set for April 26, with nomination day on April 12 and early voting on April 22. The by-election was triggered by the passing of Umno assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, who suffered a heart attack after participating in a football tournament in Penang on February 22.
Ishsam, who led Tapah Umno since 2018, secured the seat in the 15th general election in November 2022 with a 2,213-vote majority in a five-cornered contest.