The BN is often accused of abusing state machinery in elections but federal minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz is certain Pakatan Harapan will do the same in the forthcoming Sungai Besar by-election.

Nazri, who is also tourism and culture minister, said this in response to PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's claim that the playing field is skewed in BN's favour.

"Can she guarantee that the Selangor government will not use state machinery to help their (Harapan) candidate in the Sungai Besar by-election?

"I wouldn't believe it if Azmin doesn't deploy his machinery. She has forgotten that they are in power in Selangor and even though she wanted to be menteri besar but failed, Azmin is still in PKR.

"So, she cannot claim that they will not use state machinery to fight BN," Nazri told a press conference after a visit to the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur today.

He went on to slam Wan Azizah (photo), calling her a political "amateur".

"As a politician, she has yet to become a professional political leader," he said.

Nazri added that the BN is unconcerned whether there will be three-cornered fights in the by-elections.

"The priority in any election is to win. There is no need to worry about the opposition.

"Regardless of whether there will be three-cornered fights or direct fights, Umno will contest and do our best to ensure our candidate's victory," he said.

The Sungai Besar seat is traditionally contested by PAS and Umno but with the former no longer part of Pakatan Harapan, the opposition coalition is considering fielding its own candidate.

Apart from Sungai Besar, Kuala Kangsar is also set to hold its by-election on June 18.

Both seats fell vacant after their incumbent MPs perished in a helicopter accident, while helping BN to campaign in the Sarawak state election.