Kuala Lumpur: Barisan Nasional (BN) is expected to name its candidate for the Ayer Kuning by-election a week before the nomination day. Deputy Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the candidate was selected from a list of six names submitted by the Tapah UMNO Division, with the state liaison committee having a significant role in the decision-making process.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid expressed hope that the chosen candidate would meet the expectations of the residents and voters of Ayer Kuning and Tapah, aiming to replicate the party's past successes in by-elections. He made these remarks during a press conference after attending the Ihya' Ramadan Al-Mubarak Programme for the Year 1446 Hijrah/2026 AD.
When queried about the coordination between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming by-election, Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the UMNO president, confirmed that the leadership of BN-PH and other component parties within BN had reached a mutual understanding. He mentioned ongoing discussions with MIC deputy president and Tapah MP Datuk Seri M Saravanan, MCA state leaders, and the national-level War Room Committee regarding the groundwork for the election.
The polling day for the Ayer Kuning by-election is set for April 26, with nomination and early voting dates scheduled for April 12 and April 22, respectively. This by-election follows the passing of the incumbent, Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, who suffered a heart attack on February 22 after participating in the Four-Cornered Football Championship at the City Stadium in George Town, Penang.
Ishsam, who had been the Tapah UMNO Division chief since 2018, secured the Ayer Kuning seat during the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022, winning with a majority of 2,213 votes in a five-cornered contest.
During the day's programme, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, distributed aid to over 1,000 recipients under the Bagan Datuk Asnaf Contribution Programme and the Ceria ke Sekolah 2025 initiative.