The secretariat’s head, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said Aminolhuda will work alongside Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who has been named as Barisan Nasional’s by-election director.

“Full support will be given to the BN candidate for the Mahkota state by-election, who will be announced by the top BN leadership soon,” Asyraf said in a statement last night.

“All party machinery within the unity government, especially BN and PH, will be fully mobilised to win the hearts and support of voters in the Mahkota constituency, which comprises diverse ethnicities and religions.”

According to 2022 data from the Election Commission, Mahkota is a mixed demographic seat, with Malays making up 54.51% of the electorate, followed by Chinese (34.52%), Indians (7.72%) and others (3.25%).

On Monday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the candidate’s name for the by-election, to be held on Sept 28, would be finalised before Sept 14. Early voting is on Sept 24.

PH previously said it would back the BN candidate based on the principle of incumbency.

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