KUALA LUMPUR: MCA's decision to sit out the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will give Perikatan Nasional the upper hand, said Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

The PN election director described MCA's stance as "marital problems" within Pakatan Harapan.

"Yes, (MCA's decision not to campaign is an advantage to PN). There is already a crack (within the unity government), so we will deepen it until there is a split. That's just politics," he said when met by reporters, here.

Sanusi, who is also Kedah menteri besar, said unlike PH and Barisan Nasional, there was no "boycott" within PN.

Although declining to reveal the coalition's choice for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, he said all PN members and their grassroots would lend their full support to the candidate.

This was despite his earlier statement insisting that a Malay candidate was fielded for the May 11 polls.

"That was my personal view. If the meeting decides otherwise, we will respect it. We work as a party for our victory, and accepting the party's decision is part of discipline. Without discipline, the party will weaken."

On Friday, MCA had said it would not campaign in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election if the unity coalition did not field a candidate from BN.

Previously, MIC, which is also a BN component party, also said it would sit out the campaign.

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday said MIC would extend its support to the unity government candidate, and denied reports that MIC would boycott the by-election in Selangor.

Meanwhile, Pas Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said the candidate that PN would be fielding had received the consensus of the coalition, after a long discussion during a meeting earlier this evening.

Asked if the decision fulfilled Sanusi's request for a Malay candidate, Afnan said: "Sanusi is just one person. The decision is (made at) the supreme council meeting."

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election was triggered by the passing of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong on March 21.

Lee, 58, who had been the Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblyman under the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency since 2013, died after battling cancer for a few years.

In last year's Selangor election, Lee won a four-cornered fight against candidates from PN, Muda and Parti Rakyat Malaysia to retain the seat.

Nomination for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, which will be held on May 11, is set for April 27.

Previously, Gerakan, which contested the seat for PN in the last election, said it has sent the names of three possible candidates for the by-election.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/04/1041293/sanusi-mcas-decision-sit-out-kkb-election-gives-pn-upper-hand