Bersatu's chief strategist Rais Hussin is set to be fielded in the upcoming general election in Tapah, Perak, against Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan.

According to sources in the party, Rais, who is Bersatu's policy and strategy bureau chairperson, will be nominated to contest the parliamentary constituency.

He is expected to make an official announcement soon.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Rais declined to confirm his nomination saying that he will leave the decision to party leaders.

"I will leave it to the party leadership to decide whether I will stand or not. If I were to stand in Tapah, I'm always ready to fight.

"In this coming election, we have no choice but to win for all Malaysians," said Rais.

Incumbent M Saravanan from BN's MIC won the seat with a 7,927-vote majority in the last general election held in 2013.

Tapah is a predominantly a Malay seat with 46 percent of its total 45,485 voters being Malays as of 2013.

Some 28 percent are Chinese voters and 13 percent are Indians.