PKR will decide on its Hulu Selangor candidate at its political bureau meeting hours before making their announcement tomorrow, said a top party official.

NONE "We will be making the decision based on inside information that BN will field (MIC deputy president) G Palanivel (left) . We are 99 percent sure," he said.

Tensions within the ruling coalition have led many to believe that Palanivel will not be contending in the April 25 by-election.

But as Palanivel is the only person nominated by the MIC leadership, putting forward another candidate will only create a strain within the coalition's top ranks.

However, BN deputy chairperson, Muhyiddin Yasin's statement today - when he said that BN will field a local candidate - is seen to have heightened the tension within the coalition.

The statement was read as a show of support for MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan, who has also been speculated as a likely contender.

But Palanivel can be considered a local candidate too as he is the Hulu Selangor MIC division leader in the area, was once a resident there and held the seat for four terms prior to 2008.

NONE If this is the case, many believe then that the most likely PKR candidate will be Pakatan Rakyat coordinator and party ‘heavyweight' Zaid Ibrahim (right).

Among the reasons cited is his national presence, experience as an MP and minister, as well as his knowledge of Pakatan Rakyat policies.

Others on the PKR list are local man neurosurgeon Dr Halili Rahmat, Malaysian Trade Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud and PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Whatever the outcome, the official announcement will be made tomorrow night at the community hall in Serendah.

The event will be a show of strength with speeches by Pakatan Rakyat top guns including PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS President Hadi Awang and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, PKR Vice-president Azmin Ali, PKR Deputy President Saifuddin Nasution and Perak Pakatan head Nizar Jamaluddin are also expected to lend support.