BN has opted to field a new face - Suhaimi Sabudin - as the Permatang Pauh candidate, to face arch rival PKR in the May 7 parliamentary polls.

BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin announced Suhaimi, 44, a quantity surveyor, as the candidate today at the coalition's operations centre in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam.

The announcement comes two days ahead of nomination day on April 25; early voting is fixed for May 7.

Accompanying Muhyiddin were Umno vice-president, MIC president G. Palanival, his deputy S. Subramaniam, MCA deputy chief Wee Ka Siong, the party's state liaison committee chief Chew Mei Fun, Gerakan deputy chief Cheah Soon Hai, Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow, and Umno state liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman.

The seat fell vacant when PKR defacto leader Anwar Ibrahim ( right ) failed to obtain a pardon from the Yang diPertuan Agong and since Feb 10, has been serving a five-year jail term for a sodomy conviction.

"The person is chosen by the state BN after discussing with all quarters in Permatang Pauh and its division," he said.

Muhyiddin said BN wanted a person wholly supported by the party, who could work diligently as a parliamentarian to "chart a new course" for Permatang Pauh.

Candidate backed by his division

But this is not all, Muhyiddin added, saying the MP must make sure no one in Permatang Pauh is marginalised in terms of jobs and welfare.

He said the candidate was chosen carefully after much scrutiny on his background.

The division has also endorsed the candidate, Muhyiddin added.

Suhaimi, the Permatang Pauh division secretary, was picked over his boss Permatang Pauh division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said, and former candidate Mazlan Ismail.

Earlier it was speculated that Hassan Mohamed, 50, state Biro Tata Negara chief and young lawyer Norsafri Said, 36, were names submitted to Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin said that the 70,000-odd voters in Permatang Pauh have been left behind, although its MP was a "big leader" .

Anwar won the seat in 1982, when he was still with Umno.

He has held the seat since, except from 1999 to 2008, when his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail contested and won.

He was then in jail for a conviction related to his first sodomy charge.

Muhyiddin ( left ) said with a BN MP, resources would be channelled here to develop the constituency.

"What we want is to see Permatang Pauh which has been left behind since (it has been) in (the) hands of opposition, (progress) in terms of infrastructure and development," he added.

"We also want to defend and help in the welfare of Permatang Pauh so that the residents here can stand tall together with others in Penang and Malaysia," he stressed.

Muhyiddin also said the election slogan " cukuplah, kali ini kami pulak " (enough lah, this is our turn)", is sincere and genuine.

USM graduate

Suhaimi hails from Guar Jering in Seberang Perai and is a project management graduate of Universiti Sains Malaysia.

He lists his occupation as managing director, SF Sepadu Sdn Bhd.

Suhaimi has been an Umno Guar Jering branch member since 1992, rising up to be the branch youth chief from 1994 to 2013.

He became the Guar Jering branch chief in 2013 and served as Permatang Pauh Umno division youth vice-chairperson from 2005 to 2013.

Suhaimi is currently the Permatang Pauh division secretary, a post he assumed in October 2013.