Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's daughter, Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Zahid, has expressed her interest to contest in the Kajang state assembly seat, reported Sinar Harian today.

“It is still under discussion, I cannot comment further. I have intention (to contest), as those who feel they are qualified have expressed the same interests (to contest). However, I will leave it to the party leadership,” she was quoted by the daily as saying.

The seat has traditionally been contested by MCA in the BN coalition, and the party is said to be currently shortlisting the names of its candidates.

Nurul said she had only expressed her interest in contesting with her friends to get their feedback, and was not aware that the media had knowledge of this matter.

“I do not want anybody to be hurt, hence I do not want to comment further. It is different if they (the BN) announced me as their candidate,” she noted, adding that if her interest in contesting is circulated further it would affect BN and also her father.

“As people know, my father is in the party leadership so I do not want to hurt his feelings or my relationship with him as I truly respect him,” she stressed.

Zahid - who is also Umno vice-president - stays at Country Heights, Kajang.

The home minister, when met at a function in Kajang today, has immediately shot down the idea of his daughter contesting, saying she should not get involved in politics.

The Umno vice-president was quoted by several news portals as saying that his daughter is an Umno member in the Bagan Datoh constituency, where he is division chief.

“It’s an MCA seat, so we have to respect that,” said Ahmad Zahid. 

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is slated to defend the seat for Pakatan, while it has been reported that there are some independents who have expressed their interests in contesting the seat as well.

The Election Commission (EC) has set March 11 as the nomination day, and the polling date for March 23.