Umno will wait for Gua Musang parliamentarian and division head Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's blessings before finalising its candidate for the Galas by-election.

"Umno Gua Musang will only make its suggestion on who should contest in the by-election when (Razaleigh) returns this Saturday," division youth chief Bazlan Baharuddin said.

NONE Razaleigh ( right ) has a strong following in the constituency, and has been nominated as by-election director.

The nine-term MP, who is currently overseas, has said that he was yet to decide whether or not to take up the challenge to lead the campaign for the state seat.

"Maybe he's just saying this because he's abroad and doesn't want to answer calls from the media. For us, it's a sure thing (that he will be by-election director)," Bazlan said when contacted today.

He added that Razaleigh's "indecision" did not in any way put the division's election campaign in limbo as work actually took off months ago.

"We have already appointed people responsible for each area of the constituency and have started work, even in the Orang Asli areas.

"We're only waiting for (Razaleigh) to return to work out the finer details of our strategy. It does not really matter who the candidate is," he said.

PAS to decide candidate on Oct 6

azlan Meanwhile, PAS Galas by-election adviser Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party's central committee will meet on Oct 6 to decide on the candidate, after the Election Commission announces the by-election date.

"We are still waiting for the state to send us its shortlist. We are expecting three candidates to be named," Tuan Ibrahim said.

It is understood that both Umno and PAS want to field local candidates, with several groups within Umno Kelantan mooting Razaleigh for the state constituency seat.

The seat fell vacant upon the death of incumbent Chek Hashim Sulaima, a PAS representative, from cancer last month.

He won the seat in the March 2008 general election, on a slim majority of 646 votes.