The Election Commission will be meeting this Friday to discuss the status of the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah.

Both these seats fell vacant yesterday following the sudden death of Bukit Gantang's parliamentarian and the resignation of Bukit Selambau state representative.

EC public relations officer Sabri Said said in a statement that the meeting will consider if by-elections should be held for these two seats - both won by Pakatan Rakyat in the March 8 general election.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof He said that EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof ( photo ) will hold a press conference after the meeting at 11am to announce the commission's decision.

If the EC decides that by-elections should be held for the two seats, Abdul Aziz is then expected to announce the nomination days and polling days for the two seats.

Bukit Gantang member of parliament, Roslan Shaharum, 50, died yesterday due to a heart attack in Batu Gajah, Perak.

The PAS man defeated BN/Umno's Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi last March.

Several hours after Roslan's death, the Kedah state government announced thet PKR's V Arumugam had resigned from his seat.

In the general election, Arumugam stood as an independent candidate to defeat BN/MIC's S Krishnan.

Abdullah: It will be hard work

Meanwhile Prime Minister and BN head Abdullaj Ahmad Badawi said that the coalition will be making early preparations to ensure victory in the two seats.

"We should start our preparations now. We have to work very hard to win these seats," he told reporters in Putrajaya today.

abdullah ahmad badawi Abdullah also said that the BN component parties will have to be on alert and play their roles to wrestle back these two seats as soon as the EC announced the dates for the two by-elections.

He added that the BN will not consider the by-elections as a breeze.

"We cannot assume that it will be easy for us. Not only do we have to work hard, we have to work closely together to win the by-elections," he added.