The Umno Permatang Pauh candidate must be unblemished and free from scandal, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

 

Muhyiddin said the candidate, hopefully a local, must also have a good track record and a good education.

 

"Umno's candidate will be announced soon and we have received names from the party's division here," said Muhyiddin at a press conference in Wisma Transformasi, Permatang Pauh today.

 

"We will consider all views. The important thing is, the candidate must be accepted by voters here and can get on well with them," he added.

 

It is learnt that Muhyiddin was given three names, including those of Umno Permatang Pauh division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said and former GE13 candidate Mazlan Ismail, for selection of the BN candidate.

 

PKR’s candidate, will most likely be either party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or her daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar ( right ), who is leading the Free Anwar campaign.

 

The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant when its MP and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim failed to be pardoned by the Agong who chairs the Pardons Board.

 

On Feb 10, Anwar began a five year jail sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison for a sodomy conviction.

 

 Muhyiddin is on a half day working trip to Permatang Pauh to kick-start BN's campaign in the area, ahead of the seat's nomination day on April 25.

 

He was at the Seberang Jaya market this morning to visit traders and later held meetings with BN leaders.

 

The polls will be on May 7, while early voting starts on May 3.

 

'GST must be further explained'

Muhyiddin, who is also BN national deputy chief, said the local leaders have briefed him about their preparations for the Permatang Pauh seat.

 

He said he is aware of the local and national issues like the implementation of the six percent goods and services tax (GST) which will probably be raised by the opposition (Pakatan Rakyat) at the by-election.

 

Muhyiddin said the government needs to further explain the GST, and the reasons for its implementation.

 

"I visited the traders today in Seberang Jaya, and I learnt that some still ask questions, some are not clear about the matter, and some do not like it," he noted.

 

"We have explained the reasons why we need to implement the GST which is a better organised system of taxation," he added.

 

"All complaints about the GST will be looked into. This will be a campaign issue but we will explain that in the long run it is a good system," he stressed.

 

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin appeared satisfied with the meetings he held with BN leaders today.

 

"They are in high spirits and are very determined to wrest the seat from PKR," he said.

 

Muhyiddin said new vote targets for the BN candidate will be set for the 28 voting centres throughout the constituency.

 

He announced that state BN and Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow ( right ) and state Umno liason chief Zainal Abidin Osman will oversee the election.

 

He added that the support shown by various parties including MIC, People's Progressive Party and friends of BN like Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) have been encouraging.