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BARISAN Nasional (BN) has rescheduled the date for announcing its candidate for the Ayer Kuning state by-election, moving it from April 5 to April 7, according to Perak BN Chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
Saarani explained that the announcement would be made by Barisan Nasional Chairman and UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Kampung Haji Tahir Organised Housing Scheme in Temoh.
"The national-level MADANI 2025 Aidilfitri celebration is expected to be held on April 5 in Melaka, so everyone will be attending that, and the next day, we also take into account that people will be returning to their respective areas after a week of Hari Raya, which will cause the highways to be congested," he said.
"Therefore, we will make the announcement on April 7 in conjunction with the Tapah Parliamentary Constituency Aidilfitri Celebration," he added in a statement to the press after officiating the Perak Indigenous Peoples Cooperative Movement Programme, organised by the Malaysian Cooperatives Commission, today.
The Election Commission (EC) has set polling day for the Ayer Kuning by-election for April 26, with candidate nominations on April 12 and early voting on April 22.
The by-election was triggered by the death of the incumbent, Ishsam Shahruddin, on February 22 due to a heart attack after participating in a football tournament at City Stadium in George Town, Penang.
Meanwhile, Saarani emphasised that BN has never doubted the loyalty of the Orang Asli community to the coalition and hopes for continued full support from the group during the by-election, enabling BN to continue assisting the people.
Saarani added that the Ayer Kuning state seat has 2,156 Orang Asli voters, some of whom are stationed at the 3rd Battalion General Operations Force (PGA) Camp in Bidor.
In a related development, Saarani stated that BN is not concerned about facing any candidates, including the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), or a multi-cornered contest in the by-election.
Earlier reports indicated that PSM Deputy Chairman S. Arutchelvan announced that the party would field a candidate in the by-election, after contesting the seat in the 15th General Election and losing, with their candidate, Bawani KS, securing only 586 votes. - March 22, 2025