KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition will field a candidate in the Pelangai state seat by-election in Pahang.
He said the decision was made following discussions with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
"The decision was made as the incumbent, the late Datuk Seri Johari Harun was one of us.
"I have held a discussion with the Pahang menteri besar on this decision and of course we also expect all component parties under the unity government to be together with us as well," he told reporters after attending the Wanita Umno Himpunan Solidariti Wanita Bersama Presiden Mempertahankan Institusi Presiden at the World Trade Centre.
The seat was declared vacant after the death of Johari in the Elmina air crash in Shah Alam on Aug 17.
Earlier, the Election Commission set Sept 23 as nomination day for the by-election and Oct 7 for polling day.
Early voting will be held on Oct 3. Campaigning for the by-election will run for 14 days, from the start of nomination day until 11.59pm on Oct 6.
In the state election held last year simultaneously with the 15th general election, Johari beat out three other candidates, winning by 4,048-vote majority.
He garnered 7,308 votes, with Perikatan Nasional's Kasim Samat coming nearest with 3,260 votes. The other candidates were Pakatan Harapan's Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri (2,031) and Isa Ahmad of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air with just 65 votes.