GEORGE TOWN: Several names have been identified as potential candidates for the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election, state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said today.
Zainal said the shortlisted candidates are all Permatang Pauh natives and living in the constituency, highly qualified academically and new faces frequently in touch with the community.
"We realise that the by-election is an uphill battle, as Permatang Pauh is PKR's stronghold.
"We are the underdogs here.
"Nonetheless we are ready to give it our best shot. We are confident and believe that Permatang Pauh voters will make the best choice for a change, after 17 years under a PKR representative," he said in a statement here today.
The Permatang Pauh seat, held by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was declared vacant today after the Opposition leader's petition for pardon was rejected by the Pardons Board.
In light of the latest development, Zainal said Penang Umno and Barisan Nasional will step up its preparations to face the by-election.
He added that they had already begun preparations for a possible by-election after the Federal Court upheld Anwar's sodomy conviction and sentence.