GE14 | Bersatu's deputy strategy and policy bureau chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan is set to be announced as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Pendang, according to party sources.

Despite intially being tipped to challenge caretaker second finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani in Titiwangsa, the sources claim that Wan Saiful will be fielded in the Kedah parliamentary seat instead.

"It has been in his mind to head home as an anak Kedah (son of Kedah) to serve the people. Despite starting his work on the ground in Titiwangsa with grassroots leaders, he has always hoped to be back in his home state.

"His mother was a teacher and his father served as a police officer in Alor Setar. It's good for him to be given Pendang for this election," a source told Malaysiakini.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Wan Saiful declined to confirm nor comment on the matter.

BN won the seat from the traditionally PAS-held constituency in the last election, when then-deputy president Mohamad Sabu lost to Othman Abdul by 2,638 votes.

The PAS stronghold was most notably held by late former president Fadzil Noor, when he beat out current incumbent Othman Abdul in the 1999 polls.

The former CEO and founder of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) is expected to be announced as Pendang candidate tonight at a rally, along with Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the candidate for Langkawi.

Harapan leaders, including PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir will be in attendance at the rally.