Permatang Pauh Umno wants a local to be chosen as a Barisan Nasional candidate for the forthcoming by-election for the parliamentary seat.

And the division has proposed that its chief Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid is fielded to face PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.

abdul jalil abdul majid The division unanimously agreed to submit Abdul Jalil's name as a candidate at a special meeting on Monday night, reported Bernama today.

Barisan Nasional is expected to discuss the choice of candidate for the by-election at its supreme council meeting later today. It is uncertain if any other names would be considered as a candidate.

permatang pauh parliamentary seat election results 180108 The Election Commission is also expected to announce the nomination and polling dates for the by-election, which is to be called following the sudden resignation of PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to give way for her husband.

Meanwhile Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary Ahmad Sahar Shuib said the ultimate decision to name Abdul Jalil would be left to the party and BN leadership.

"We will abide by any decision," said Abdul Jalil.

No time wasting

He said that it would be better for the BN to field a local as it would be easier for the local candidate to approach the voters to address the issues raised by the opposition.

"By choosing a local who is known among the local community, it would be easier for us to approach the voters without having to waste time introducing the candidate," he said.

Abdul Jalil also said the division had set up 22 bureaux -- including on information, operations room, posters, intelligence, psy-war and cyber unit -- to smoothen the division's preparation for the by-election.

"We understand that the young voters obtain information through the Internet and blogs. We will give them the opportunity to interact with us through the new media," he said.

He added that there were about 10,000 new voters among the young in the area.