UMNO grassroots leader Zakaria Hanapi is Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the March 2 Semenyih by-election.

The Kg Sasapan Kelubi division’s permanent chairman was today unveiled as the pact’s pick by Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan, who said Zakaria was chosen because he is a local and familiar with the community.

“For a parliamentary seat candidate, we would want someone with expertise, but for a state seat, we don’t need someone with fancy degrees, just someone who is close to the people,” said Mohamad at Dataran Mohd Said in Semenyih.

Zakaria, 57, has a bachelor’s degree in developmental science from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and worked as an administrative officer at the university, according to his profile issued by BN.

He is active in community work, having held posts in parent-teacher associations and youth councils, and a frequent participant in activities in Kg Sasapan Kelubi and Hulu Langat, the parliamentary constituency in which Semenyih is located.

He was also secretary of his village’s Development and Security Committee.

Besides BN leaders, PAS vice-president Iskandar Abdul Samad and secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan were also present at the candidate-unveiling event.

PAS is not fielding a candidate in the Semenyih polls, instead electing to support BN and help the pact’s campaign.

In the 14th general election, BN lost Semenyih for the first time to PH’s Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, of Bersatu. He won with an 8,964-vote margin over BN in a four-cornered fight that also included PAS and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

The by-election was called following Bakhtiar’s death last month due to a heart attack.

Mohamad said the vote margin of almost 9,000 is nothing to worry about.

“People can now see that PH cannot keep its election promises.” – February 14, 2019.