He said he was against BN’s decision to field candidates from outside Perlis.

Zahidi, who is head of the Padang Besar Umno division, has been Padang Besar MP for two terms.

He is involved in a five-cornered tussle, involving BN candidate Zahida Zarik Khan, Rushdan Rusmi (PN-PAS), Saad @ Yahya (PH-Amanah) and Ko Chu Liang of Warisan.

“I sympathise with this candidate whose iddah period (mourning period) is still not over, but I do not agree with the decision made by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,” he said after filing his nomination papers. “So, I have to proceed with my plan to run as an independent candidate.”

BN candidate Zahida, who is Puteri Umno chief, is observing the iddah period for four months and 10 days following the death of her husband on Aug 20.

Zahidi had won the Padang Besar seat in the 2018 general elelction, contesting as a BN candidate. He was returned with a majority of 1,438 votes, defeating PKR candidate Izizam Ibrahim and Mokhtar Senik, from PAS.

In the fight for the Titi Tinggi state seat, Zahidi is in a six-cornered contest against Khaw Hock Kong (Warisan), Teh Seng Chuan (PH-DAP), Izizam Ibrahim (PN-Bersatu), Shahril Md Sarif (GTA-Pejuang) and the previous assemblyman, Teh Chai Aan (BN-MCA).