Kelantan Umno information chief Zawawi Othman said Bersatu clearly lacked the edge, especially in the east coast state, Berita Harian reported.

“PAS Youth in Gua Musang previously requested that a PAS candidate be fielded for the Nenggiri seat, but Bersatu insisted it was their seat,” he was quoted as saying.

“Yesterday, it became evident that Bersatu had to yield to Gua Musang PAS’s demands when they selected a former PAS deputy youth chief as their candidate.”

Zawawi said Barisan Nasional (BN) now has an advantage, as its candidate was well-known in Gua Musang, unlike Bersatu’s candidate, Rizwadi Ismail.

“Therefore, we leave it to the voters to choose between BN and Bersatu. For a brighter future, the choice is to give the mandate to BN,” he said.

Yesterday, Perikatan Nasional named Rizwadi, a former navy officer, as its candidate for the Aug 17 by-election.

Menteri besar Nassuruddin Daud said the 41-year-old stays in Nenggiri, Gua Musang, and used to be a PAS member.

He also said that Rizwadi, a former Gua Musang PAS deputy youth chief, was given “permission” to join Bersatu since the Nenggiri seat belongs to the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party.