KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government has several potential candidates for the Kuala Kubu Baru by-election, slated for May 11.

Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the list of names would be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, at the unity government consultative council meeting.

He however declined to reveal the number of potential candidates they have shortlisted.

"We want the candidate's identity to represent the unity government, not a particular party

"If we field a candidate representing the unity government, it will foster a stronger sense of joint responsibility which would encourage a stronger machinery

"We want to bring victory to the unity government," he told reporters last night.

He said this after chairing the unity government secretariat meeting at the World Trade Centre, to discuss the preparations for the Kuala Kubu Baru by-elections.

Also present were unity government secretariat chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Umno working committee member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Others included PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, Parti Amanah Negara secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, and DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the meeting also finalised the individual in charge of coordinating the unity government's machinery for the by-election, and also discussed the preparation of strategy and the use of data.

He added that the meeting also looked into all the voting trends in the 16 districts of the constituency.

"We have reached several decisions including naming individuals responsible for running the campaign machinery in addition to coordinating national and state level issues.

"We have studied the profile of the area, the percentage of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other voters. We also looked at income, level of education, and whether they are working in the government or private sector," he said.

The by-election is being held following the death of its three-term assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong from DAP.

Lee died on March 21 after a battle with cancer.

Nomination for the by-election would be held on April 27, while early voting is set for May 7.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/04/1038978/unity-government-has-list-potential-candidates-kuala-kubu-baru