The decision as to who will be the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the Bagan Pinang by-election will be taken when the Teluk Kemang Umno division holds its meeting on Thursday.

The division's chief Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said the name would then be forwarded to the Negeri Sembilan Umno liaison committee, before being submitted to the party president.

"This is the normal procedure we have practised. So far, no decision has been made yet," he told reporters today.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyperson Azman Mohammad Nor of the BN at the Seremban Specialist Centre on Friday due to a blood disorder.

Azman, 54, who was the vice head of the division, won the seat in the 2008 general election when he defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail by a majority of 2,333 votes.

Meanwhile, Wanita Umno vice head Kamelia Ibrahim urged the Umno leadership to field a woman candidate for a change.

"In all the by-elections held since the general election it has been men candidates. I think some thought should be given about a woman candidate this time," she told reporters today.

- Bernama