ANALYSIS Speculation is rife that the BN leadership may go for a repeat performance of the recent Tenang by-election win by picking an outsider within Jasin Umno for the Merlimau fight, nomination for which is set for Feb 26 with polling to take place on March 6.

Taking a leaf from the Tenang by-election triumph of Mohd Azhar Ibrahim, a former assistant district officer with strong party connections, recording a higher majority by garnering 3,707 votes, the Merlimau by-election may see a similar scenario.