KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will not take part in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election.
Its deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan however said that Umno would back other Barisan Nasional (BN) component members contesting the polls.
"This is because Umno has never contested in the area that had been represented by our component parties," he said.
Mohamad, who is carrying the duties of Umno president, was speaking to reporters after chairing the party’s Supreme Council meeting.
He added that BN will announce its candidate for the by-election tonight, after the coalition’s Supreme Council holds its meeting on the matter.
This will be the eighth by-election since the 14th General Election in 2018.
The Sandakan parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt from DAP.
The Sabah's Health and Wellness Minister died on March 28 believed to be from a heart attack.
The Election Commission has set April 27 as the nomination day, May 7 for early voting and May 11 as polling day.
In the GE14, Wong retained the Parliament seat with a 10,098 vote majority after securing 19,094 votes to beat BN's Datuk Lim Ming Ho who garnered 8,996 votes.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the Umno General Assembly would be held between Nov 13 and 16.
He said an extra day would also be added for the party to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
The EGM is to discuss amendments to the party Constitution, including the granting of autonomy to Umno Sabah.
Mohamad said the party will also celebrate its 73rd anniversary on May 11 at the party headquarters, here.