Zahid: Expect a surprise in Permatang Pauh

PERMATANG PAUH: Expect a "shock" from Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid who is the party's by-election director said Umno will cause a surprise in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) stronghold.
Asked on the gender of the party's candidate, he said it did not matter for the coalition if the candidate chosen was a man or a woman.
"Our choice of candidate will be a likeable and winnable candidate and ....I think the person is younger than me, " he said at a press conference in Wisma Transformasi earlier today.
Zahid was accompanied by state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman and Permatang Pauh Umno division chairman Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will launch the party's election machinery and announce BN's chosen candidate on Apr 23.
The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant following the decision of the Pardons Board to reject Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's petition for a pardon following his conviction and five-year jail term for sodomy.
The Permatang Pauh by-election will be held on May 7 while nomination is on April 25 and early voting on May 3.