HULU SELANGOR (April 27): The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election will see a four-cornered fight between the candidates of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), and an independent.

Both the PH and PN coalitions followed through with their previously announced candidates: PH with DAP's Pang Sock Tao, a former press secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, and PN with Khairul Azhari Saut, the Hulu Selangor Bersatu acting division chief.

PRM's Hafizah Zainudin and independent Nyau Ke Xin joined them to round up the four-corner contest.

On the way to the nomination centre on Saturday, PH's Pang was flanked by an entourage of key representatives of unity government proponents.

This included Transport Minister and DAP secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Selangor Menteri Besar and PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and MIC representatives.

Representatives of MCA, which had said it would sit out the by-election, leading to reports it would boycott it, were visibly absent.

Meanwhile, Khairul was accompanied by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, and members of the newly formed Malaysian Indian People Party.

PN supporters showed up with various placards taking issue with the unity government's handling of, among others, the service tax increase, food prices, and rising water and electricity tariffs, and the recent controversy surrounding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former aide taking up a stake in HeiTech Padu Bhd.

PH's supporter turnout was visibly stronger in numbers, dwarfing that of PN. It remains to be seen if the turnout is representative of the voting pattern when the polls take place on May 11, when 40,226 voters will be eligible to cast their ballots in the by-election — including 625 policemen and 238 armed forces personnel and their spouses.

The KKB seat fell vacant after its incumbent, DAP's Lee Kee Hiong, passed away from cancer in March.

While MCA representatives were not present during Saturday's nomination, Zahid told the press that he believes the party will still be aiding Pang, the unity government's candidate, during her campaign.

“We understand their feelings. However, we hope that the situation will change once the 'coldness' [towards DAP] subsides,” the Umno president said, adding that he had “100%” confidence in the unity government emerging victorious in retaining KKB.

Loke, meanwhile, said the crux of the election lies with persuading voters, not parties.

In response to Zahid's statement, Muhyiddin countered by saying he had “110%” confidence in PN ousting the unity government from the seat.

The former prime minister also called on those who are considering recent calls to boycott the unity government to instead “exercise their right to vote” in protest against it.

“I think it is best to avoid boycotting. If you are not satisfied with the government, you use your right to vote and vote for PN — only then will your protest be effective,” Muhyiddin said.

“If they stay home and choose not to vote, that will be a loss for us (PN),” he added.