BN today announced Sungai Panjang assemblyperson Budiman Mohd Zohdi (photo above, third from left) as its candidate for the upcoming Sungai Besar by-election.

Some 2,000 supporters comprising component party members were present at Barisan Nasional's command centre in Pasir Panjang, Sungai Besar, to witness the announcement by Umno deputy president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"I promise if this leader wins with a good majority, I will personally come down and assist this division," said Zahid.

In his speech earlier, Zahid hinted that the candidate was a local from the area who will be able to be wherever he is needed by the people.

"This candidate is chosen based on research, after scrutinising the background of the other candidates and reports obtained from Sungai Besar leaders.

"Insyaallah, we know that the candidate for this by-election should be a continuation of the excellent service provided by the late Noriah Kasnon," said Zahid.

Noriah has held the seat for three terms since it was created in a 2003 re-delineation exercise.

Zahid also said there were 'too many' candidates to choose from among the seven names shortlisted by Selangor BN.

After the announcement, Budiman, 44, said that he was entering the contest as an underdog.

"I know that in the previous election, BN won it by a close margin but I believe in the current conditions, there is unity among the parties in the government.

"I will use my track record of my work as assemblyperson of Sungai Panjang to bring to Parliament," he said.

The first-term assemblyperson also promised to continue his service for all the races, including the Malays, Indians and Chinese in the area.

Not worried about three-cornered fight

When met by the press later, Budiman said he was not worried about the prospect of facing a three-cornered fight.

"I am not worried about that. I think I have the strength to contest regardless of whether it is a one- or two- or four-cornerned fight. I will fight," he said.

"I feel that this is not something new or has not been done before,” he said.

He cited Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali who has done the same thing as Bukit Antarangsa assemblyperson and Gombak MP.

"Secondly, this is more prestigious than a move like the Kajang move, where someone's wife was made to replace his seat," he said.

Also present were Umno Selangor chief Noh Omar, Umno information chief Annuar Musa, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Puteri chief Mas Ermieyati.

Other BN component parties were represented by its top leaders, including MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon, Gerakan deputy president Kohilan Pillay and PPP's Maglene D Cruz.

The battle for Sungai Besar has so far seen the participation of two state assemblypersons as PAS separately announced Meru assemblyperson Dr Abdul Rani Osman as its candidate.

Pakatan Harapan, meanwhile, is only expected to announce its own candidate on June 1.

The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar seats fell vacant after the recent deaths of its incumbents, Noriah and Wan Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, in the Sarawak helicopter tragedy.