BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the candidate has been selected from a list of six names submitted by the Tapah Umno division, with the state liaison committee having a say in the matter.

“I hope this candidate meets the criteria expected by the residents and voters of Ayer Kuning, and Tapah in general, so that we can, God willing, replicate our success in previous by-elections,” Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister, said after a Ramadan programme here this evening.

Asked about coordination between BN and Pakatan Harapan for the by-election, Zahid, who is also the Umno president, said the BN-PH leadership as well as component parties within BN had reached an understanding.

Polling for the Ayer Kuning by-election will be held on April 26, with nomination day and early voting scheduled for April 12 and 22, respectively.

The by-election is being held following the death of Umno assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, from a heart attack after taking part in a football tournament in Penang on Feb 22.

Ishsam, who had been the Tapah Umno chief since 2018, won the seat in the 15th general election in November 2022 with a majority of 2,213 votes in a five-cornered contest.