The party’s protem president, Ibrahim Ali, said the party was also prepared for a three-cornered fight.

“We will contest in the Tanjung Piai by-election if PH fields a non-Malay, if PAS is not contesting and MCA also wants to contest,” he said today at a Putra event.

“The Malay voters can make their choice, the best party that can give its commitment in the struggle for our rights. Furthermore, whoever wins the area, a Malay would be the representative.

He said his party would wait until PH and the opposition had announced their nominees before deciding on its own candidate for the by-election.

He said the party, set up in May, could afford to take part because “elections now are not like in the old days..only need RM10,000 deposit while the campaign can be done through social media. Not many ceramah are needed, and vehicles are not necessary, so it doesn’t involve much cost”.

The Tanjung Piai seat fell vacant following the death of deputy minister Dr Md Farid Md Rafik on Sept 21 from a heart attack.

Farid defeated Wee Jeck Seng (BN-MCA) by 524 votes in the 2018 general election, ending Wee’s bid for a third term.