BERSATU will announce its candidate for the Semenyih by-election on February 14, two days before nomination day.

Party president Muhyiddin Yassin said the announcement will be made at 4pm either by himself or Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We will introduce our candidate on February 14. Either myself or Dr Mahathir will make the announcement.

“The announcement will be made at 4pm in Semenyih,” he told reporters after three back-to-back meetings with Semenyih Bersatu leaders today.

He did not elaborate on the candidate, but said a full profile would be released when the announcement is made.

Muhyiddin said the party will also consider fielding a Semenyih local as its candidate due to requests by the locals.

“After many meetings with the local leadership and people, most of them want a local candidate.

“But that candidate must be qualified, able, and kind,” said Muhyiddin, who is also the home minister.

The polls were called following the death of assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, 57, of a heart attack on January 11.

In GE14, Bakhtiar got 23,428 votes, beating Barisan Nasional’s Johan Abd Aziz, Mad Shahmidur Mat Kosim (PAS), and S. Arutchelvan (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) with a 8,964-vote majority.

Muhyiddin said he is not sure what strategy the opposition will adopt in the by-election, but stressed that the party would not take the election lightly.

“Our machinery must unite and move as a team because it will not be a simple by-election. It is a big task, an uphill battle.

“I have been involved in a lot of elections and there was never one that I took lightly.

“We have to work hard even if we think we can win. Hope for victory is not enough,” he said.

When asked if issues surrounding the party will dampen its chances of winning, Muhyiddin said he did not think the issues were major.

“There are no big issues. No problems with the leadership and regarding our secretary-general, that issue has been answered,” he added, referring to Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya, who came under fire recently over his debated tertiary qualifications.

Muhyiddin also said the party will focus on cost-of-living issues during the campaigning period. Other issues the party will tackle include flooding in Semenyih and health facilities.

Nomination for the by-election will be held on February 16, and polling on March 2. Early voting is scheduled for February 26. – February 9, 2019.