“It will be a very tough fight for me. but I accept the challenge,” the former Rembau MP told reporters after nominations were closed.

“A vote for me is a vote for our prime ministerial candidate, Ismail Sabri Yaakob.”

When asked if his candidacy in Sungai Buloh was designed to end his political career, Khairy said: “I’m not ready to go yet.”

Previously, BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan was reported to have denied claims that fielding Khairy in Sungai Buloh was an attempt to end the health minister’s political career.

According to a Utusan Malaysia report, Mohamad, commonly known as Tok Mat, said the party considered Sungai Buloh a safe seat as Malays constituted 70% of the electorate.

Earlier today, the Election Commission (EC) named Khairy as one of seven candidates for the Sungai Buloh seat.

The others are R Ramanan of Pakatan Harapan, Akmal Yusoff (Gerakan Tanah Air), Razali Mat Hamin (Perikatan Nasional), Jufriz Faizal (Parti Rakyat Malaysia), and independent candidates, Syed Abdul Razak Syed Long Alsagoff and Norhaslinda Basri.