Sheikh Umar said Umno will either field Kluang Wanita Umno vice-chief Zainani Jamaluddin or the division’s youth chief, Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah.

He said this was revealed at the launch of Amanah’s machinery for the by-election, which was attended by the duo as well as Kluang Umno chief Jais Sarday.

“On behalf of Johor DAP, we stated our full commitment to campaign to ensure victory for the final Barisan Nasional-Umno candidate.

“During DAP’s central executive committee meeting last week, party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook ordered the party to mobilise its entire election machinery,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Sheikh Umar said one of the major factors to navigate is the voter turnout in the by-election.

He said they will be particularly looking to ensure that Mahkota voters based outside the state constituency go back to cast their ballots.

Wanita Umno had demanded that it be allowed to defend the seat previously won by Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, who passed away on Aug 2.

Umno Youth however also wants to contest the Johor state seat, especially after Kelantan Umno Youth chief Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani scored a convincing 3,352-vote majority win in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan last month.

Two days ago, Umno vice-president Johari Ghani said the party is expected to announce its candidate next week.