Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa however reminded members to remain committed to the party’s struggle.

“It is a norm at every nomination of a candidate. This happens because of difference in opinion,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

He said the decision to choose Wee Jeck Seng from MCA to stand against PPBM’s Karmaine Sardini was made after discussions with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

It was reported that several Umno members in Tanjung Piah had boycotted BN’s announcement of Wee’s candidacy last night, with 90% of those present being MCA members.

The Tanjung Piai Umno division previously nominated their leader Jefridin Atan for the by-election.

In the 2018 general election, Wee lost to the late Md Farid Md Rafik from PPBM by a 524-vote margin.

The Tanjung Piai seat was left vacant by Farid’s death on Sept 21.

Meanwhile, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi acknowledged that the sentiments against the MCA candidate were strong but said the situation had calmed down.

He said discussions had been held on the matter, and that those who objected to the candidate would now cooperate to help Wee win the by-election.

“The situation is calmer. They will make sure the MCA candidate representing BN will win.

“The question of race does not arise anymore,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby when asked about the possibility of Umno grassroots sabotaging Wee through a lack of support during the campaign period.

He also said a final decision had been made on the candidate, and that everyone in BN was now working together to ensure victory in the polls.