Deputy BN head Muhyiddin Yassin has evaded a question as to which component party - Umno or MCA - is to contest the upcoming Kajang by-election.

“The seat belongs to MCA. Although there are several opinions, I cannot decide on this until it is discussed with the MCA president as well as other (BN) component parties,” Muhyiddin told a press conference today.

“Whatever we decide, we (will) see (if) it's the best decision ... That, I think, is up to the BN president (Najib Abdul Razak).”

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai has said several times that Kajang is MCA's ‘traditional’ seat and that the party should field the BN candidate for the state seat.

The seat became vacant following the resignation of incumbent Lee Chin Cheh, and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had announced that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will stand as the party’s candidate in this by-election.

Several parties, including former MCA president Ong Tee Keat and the National Council of Professors, had suggested that Liow be fielded to face the parliamentary opposition leader.

However, Muhyiddin, who also the deputy prime minister, said that BN hass yet to finalise the candidate but it will be decided as soon as possible.

“We haven’t decide anything. Those are opinions from several parties. Some said (the national badminton ace) Lee Chong Wei, some said Liow Tiong Lai (should be fielded).

“These opinions can be published in newspapers, it’s up to them. But normally we will make a thorough, reasonable and acceptable decision.

“(We will consider on whether the person chosen) has good performance, with credibility and no problems (in terms of personalities). Those are the criteria which we will consider,” he added.

The Election Commission (EC) will meet tomorrow to decide the nomination and polling dates.

Meanwhile, after visiting several business premises in Kajang, Muhyiddin admitted that the prices of certain goods had risen but stressed that there are not drastic.

He said the government will speed up the process by giving ‘reasonable price’ status to premises which sell goods at reasonable prices.

He added that the government is considering what kind of incentives to be given to those premises which achieve the status, including helping the operators to promote their businesses.

Muhyiddin also urged the public to check the price rate of certain price-controlled items through the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s official website, as some hypermarkets are offering goods at prices below market price.