PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision was made following a meeting of the coalition’s top leadership, chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, last week.

“It was agreed that PH will support the BN candidate in line with the principle of incumbency, just as BN did during the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections in September 2023,” he said in a statement today.

Saifuddin said securing the Makota seat remains a top priority of the unity government, with PH pledging full backing for BN.

Earlier today, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his coalition has decided on its candidate for the Sept 28 by-election.

He said the candidate will be revealed after discussions at the unity government secretariat meeting next week, and that a fresh face would be fielded.

Zahid had previously warned other unity government coalition partners not to demand to contest the seat.

Kluang Amanah had lobbied for the seat, prompting brickbats from several Umno leaders.

The by-election follows the death of Umno assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2 while receiving treatment in hospital for internal bleeding.

Nominations for the Mahkota by-election will be held on Sept 14 and early voting on Sept 24.