Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the BN was in the process of selecting the most suitable candidates for the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

He said the candidates to be fielded should be well accepted not only by the party, but also voters.

"At the moment, we are assessing suitable candidates to be fielded.

"We need to look into all aspects to ensure we have the right candidates who will be well received by both the party and voters."

The prime minister was speaking at a press conference last night, at the end of his working visit to the United Kingdom. He is expected to leave for Sochi, Russia, today to attend the two-day Russia-Asean Summit.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said he had also given his recommendations to the party on the preparations to be made for the two by-elections.

"I have advised the party through Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his capacity as party deputy president... they are actively preparing courses and other activities," he said.

The Sungai Besar (in Selangor) and Kuala Kangsar (in Perak) parliamentary seats fell vacant following the deaths of incumbents Noriah Kasnon who was also plantation industries and commodities deputy minister and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

Last Friday, the Election Commission announced that the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections would be held simultaneously on June 18, and the nomination date fixed for June 5.

– Bernama