A source close to the matter said the party was looking to field Aiman Athirah Sabu, the Wanita Amanah chief, whose candidacy is expected to be announced soon.

While the former deputy law minister has accepted the party decision, a “majority” of the party’s machinery and supporters in the constituency were against plans to field Aiman, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed.

The source said the party was mulling to drop the two-term MP over health reasons.

Hanipa was elected the Sepang MP in the 2013 general election. In 2016, he underwent surgery for brain haemorrhage, and in 2018, he was found to suffer from vasovagal syncope, which causes one to faint due to certain triggers.

“If they are looking for Hanipa’s successor, we would prefer either Faiz Fadzil or Hasbie Muda,” the source said, referring to the party’s Supreme Council member and the Amanah Youth chief, respectively.

The source said the duo were preferred as Faiz was close to the youths in the party and had a law degree, while Hasbie has written many books and is skilled at analysing issues.

The source claimed that the chapter in Sepang was not too keen on Aiman as she could not woo young voters.