PAS splinter party Amanah will likely opt for a local candidate, Sungai Besar Amanah division chairperson Azhar Abdul Shukur, for the coming parliamentary by-election, a party source said.

Born in Sungai Besar, Azhar, 50, is a former teacher who is currently running his own business.
 
There has been speculation that Amanah were looking to field like party president Mohamad Sabu (popularly known as Mat Sabu), deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and former Perak menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin being bandied.

However, it has been said that Nizar might contest in the Kuala Kangsar by-election instead.

The source said the top two party leaders will not be fielded as candidates as the by-elections are a "test market" for Amanah.

“We will be testing the market in these by-elections. What’s more, Amanah is only seven months old.

"If we field Mat Sabu or Salahuddin and they lose, the party’s image would not be so good,” the source said.
 
All these speculations will come to an end on Wednesday, when Pakatan Harapan is expected to name its by-election candidates.

Last Thursday, Amanah had presented the names of two candidates for the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections to the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

Amanah’s ally, PKR, has been negotiating with PAS on the by-elections, in hopes of averting a three-cornered fight.

PAS, BN have named theirs for Sg Besar

PAS, however, is adamant to field its candidates in the two constituencies, saying the Islamist party has traditionally contested these seats.

PAS has announced its Meru assemblyperson, Dr Abdul Rani Osman, as its candidate for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat.

The BN has also announced another assemblyperson as its contestant: Budiman Mohd Zohdi, who holds the Sungai Panjang state seat.

The Election Commission has fixed June 18 as the date for the two by-elections, with June 5 being nomination day.

The Sungai Besar seat fell vacant with the death of deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak, on May 5.
 
Noriah had defeated PAS candidate Mohamed Salleh M Hussin with a 399-vote majority In the 13th general election.
 
Sungai Besar comprises 42,836 registered voters, with 67.18 percent of them being Malays, 30.68 percent Chinese, 1.98 percent Indian and 0.23 percent making up the other races.