Party president Mukhriz Mahathir said Pejuang remains steadfast that it will align with any political party, except for Umno.

“We have discussed this matter before and concluded that it is not the right time for Pejuang to contest in the Mahkota by-election.

“Other parties have also asked us for help, so we need to make a decision.

“I have said before that wherever Umno is, we will be there. So you can guess who we will support (in this by-election),” Harian Metro reported him as saying during a press conference in Kluang, Johor.

Mukhriz said Pejuang had deployed its machinery via Malay NGOs in Kluang well before the Mahkota by-election was announced.

“Barisan Nasional is leading the government in Johor, supported by Pakatan Harapan. It seems natural for us to back PN and its not awkward since we have supported them before,” he said.

PN turned down Pejuang’s application to join the coalition in March 2023. The party had applied for membership with a view to having its candidates run on a PN ticket in the six state elections held in August last year.

This was after Pejuang lost in every seat it contested in the 15th general election in November 2022, with all its candidates, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz, losing their deposits.