SABAK BERNAM, May 27 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) has selected Sungai Panjang assemblyman Budiman Mohd Zohdi to contest the Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Sungai Panjang state representative from Umno was chosen by BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“We have a chosen a young candidate that's accepted by the grassroots and to continue the work of Noriah,” Zahid said when he made the announcement at the Sungai Besar BN command centre, referring to the late Sungai Besar MP Datuk Noriah Kasnon.

The June 18 Sungai Besar by-election was triggered when Noriah died in a recent helicopter crash in Sarawak during campaigning for the state election.

Budiman, 44, will be contesting against PAS candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman, who is also Meru assemblyman. Pakatan Harapan has yet to announce their candidate.

Speaking to reporters after his nomination, Budiman said he will be entering the polls as the underdog against the opposition.

“I will enter this contest as the underdog. I know the previous elections BN won it by a close margin only, but I believe in the current conditions, there is unity among the parties in government,” said the Selangor state assemblyman.

Noriah, a three-term MP from Umno, held on to her seat in the 13th general election with a majority of just 399 votes against PAS.

Budiman, who is Selangor BN secretary, said he was not afraid to face a possible three-corner contest.

“I am not worried about that. I think I have the strength to contest no matter [if] it is a one corner, or two corner fight, or four corner fight. I will fight,” Budiman stressed.

He also said he was up to the task of probably being the first BN candidate to hold simultaneous positions as state and federal lawmaker if he won the Sungai Besar seat.

Budiman noted that Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali himself is both Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman.

“I feel that the Selangor MB does the same thing. He is Bukit Antarangsa assemblyman and MP for Gombak.

“I feel that this is not something new or has not been done before. Secondly, this is more prestigious than a move like the Kajang Move, where someone's wife was made to replace his seat,” he said referring to the move by PKR last year to replace incarcerated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Kajang assemblyman with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Budiman, who is currently pursuing a doctorate in Political Science at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said he will use his influence as Sungai Panjang assemblyman to win the Sungai Besar federal seat.

“I will use my track record of my work as Sungai Panjang assemblyman to bring to Parliament. I will continue my work here and service all the races, including the Malays, Indians and Chinese here,” he said.