DPM: BN to meticulously choose candidate for Kajang by-election

Barisan Nasional (BN) will make a thorough selection to ensure it fields a suitable candidate who is also acceptable to the people, in the coming Kajang state seat by-election. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the selection would also be based on the individual's good performance and credibility, besides being a member of any of the BN component party. "We will decide on the candidate soon," said Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chairman, after conducting surprise price checks at a number of locations in Negeri Sembilan and Kajang, Selangor, Tuesday. Asked on the candidate said to be from MCA, he said: "This seat had traditionally been an MCA seat. However, there are various views on the choice of candidate this time, so this cannot be decided yet until the matter is discussed with the MCA president and other BN component party leaders." "The final decision will be left to BN chairman Datuk Seri NajibTun Razak." The Kajang state seat fell vacant after its incumbent assemblyman, Lee Chin Cheh from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), resigned from the post on Jan 27. The opposition pact has named PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as their candidate for the by-election. The Kajang constituency has 39,030 registered voters, with Malays making up 48.3 per cent, Chinese 40.5 per cent, Indians 10 per cent, and other races 1.2 per cent. MCA won the seat in the 2004 general election, but lost it to PKR in 2008 and 2013.