“Ku Li’s influence is huge”, Khairy said, referring to Tengku Razaleigh, while BN’s chances would also be boosted by Ramli, who would be able to secure the community’s votes.

The Orang Asli constitute 13% of the 20,245 eligible voters in Nenggiri. With Ramli on BN’s side there are chances to win those votes as well, Khairy said in the Keluar Sekejap podcast he co-hosts with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

Tengku Razaleigh was a 12-term MP for Gua Musang, which includes the Nenggiri state constituency, until he was ousted in the 2022 general election.

On Saturday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Tengku Razaleigh’s leadership of the Nenggiri Umno division will help the coalition’s candidate, Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani.

PH will show up through PKR, Amanah

Shahril said Pakatan Harapan could still make its presence felt in the Nenggiri campaign through representatives from PKR and Amanah.

“PH will try to show their presence (in Nenggiri), maybe not DAP but perhaps PKR and Amanah,” he said. “If not, it will be seen as just an Umno and BN campaign” and it would be difficult for PH to share in the victory should BN candidate Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani win on Aug 17.

The Nenggiri by-election on Aug 17 was called when the Kelantan assembly speaker declared the seat vacant after Bersatu said that the assemblyman, Azizi Abu Naim, had ceased to be a party member.

BN had held the Nenggiri seat since 2004 before losing to PN last year, when Azizi defeated Umno’s Ab Aziz Yussof by 810 votes.