He told FMT that her name had been “almost finalised” by the top leadership and that an authorisation letter would most likely be issued next week.

The Supreme Council member, who declined to be named, said there were, however, some reservations about her contesting in the Malay majority area due to her links to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) issue.

“Some are concerned about the NFC issue. It could be used by the opposition against her.

“But then again, her name has been cleared. Let’s hope for the best as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared her name of any involvement in the RM250 million contract and loan to NFC.”

Shahrizat’s husband Mohamed Salleh Ismail is NFC chairman while her children are its directors.

The public-funded firm was accused by the opposition of using government soft loans for purposes unrelated to cattle farming, including the purchase of luxury condominium units in Bangsar and Singapore and land in Putrajaya.

Shahrizat, who is also the Kepong Wanita Umno chief, was defeated in her former stronghold of Lembah Pantai in 2008 by PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The Bandar Tun Razak seat has traditionally been contested by MCA. Earlier this year, Bandar Tun Razak Umno chief Rizalman Mokhtar told FMT he hoped the seat would be given to Umno.

Rizalman is also said to be pushing to contest the seat. However, after his arrest during a joint MACC and police operation two weeks ago, his chances of being chosen as a candidate are almost nil. He was initially tested positive for drugs but cleared after a pathology test.

Last week, FMT contacted Rizalman again but he said he was not sure if he would be fielded as a candidate in Bandar Tun Razak.

MCA lost the Bandar Tun Razak seat to former PKR candidate Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in 2008. Khalid, the former Selangor menteri besar who is now an independent, won the seat again in 2013 with a big majority of 11,832 votes.

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