The BN information machinery for the Merlimau state seat by-election will be launched in Air Merbau, Merlimau on Saturday.

Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the machinery would be jointly launched by Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan and him.

Mohd Ali, who is also the BN election director for the by-election, said all BN machineries would be invited to help in the campaign in the party's strive to retain the seat with a bigger majority.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Ahmad in Malacca today, Mohd Ali said he would meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Putrajaya on Tuesday to brief him on the by-election and the BN candidate.

The Jasin Umno division had submitted seven names shortlisted for the candidacy to Mohd Ali.

"We want to relive the spirit of the Tenang state by-election where the BN retained the seat with a bigger majority as well that of the Batu Sapi, Galas, Hulu Selangor and Bagan Pinang by-elections," he added.

azlan The Election Commission has fixed nomination day for the Merlimau by-election on Feb 26 and polling on March 6.

The Merlimau seat fell vacant after the assemblyperson Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, of the BN, died of heart failure on Jan 20.

In the 2008 general election, Mohamad Hidhir defeated Jasme Tompang of PAS with a majority of 2,154 votes.

Meanwhile, Malacca MIC chairperson R Perumal has been appointed the party's election operations director for the by-election.

MIC president G Palanivel had also appointed former state chairperson R Ragavan as the adviser and Jasin MIC division chief S Periamallai as the deputy director.

"All division leaders and branch chairmen in Melaka and the central working committee members will be involved in reaching out to Indian voters," he said.

- Bernama