Salahuddin said while Dzulkefly had previously announced that he wished to make way for a younger candidate in GE15, those plans may have to be put on hold as Umno looked poised to name caretaker finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz as Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the seat.

“He (Dzulkefly) raised this matter (not contesting GE15) with the party’s leadership a while ago, and we were all right with it,” he said in a statement.

“However, after Umno wanted to field Tengku Zafrul as its candidate in Kuala Selangor, the leadership of Amanah and PH wants Dzulkefly to contest in GE15 to defend his seat.

“This election is very critical, and every seat is important to PH.”

Salahuddin said Amanah was confident that Dzulkefly, a former health minister, would be able to defend the seat which he won in 2018 with a 8,498-vote majority against BN’s Irmohizam Ibrahim.

In June, Dzulkefly said he had no intention of contesting in GE15 as he wanted to give younger Amanah leaders a chance.

However, the two-term MP said he would consider throwing his hat in the ring if Umno nominated a “heavyweight” such as Tengku Zafrul for the seat.

“I’ve said this before, if the party’s top leadership wants me to contest for any reason – such as if a federal minister like Tengku Zafrul or others contest – I will consider competing in GE15,” he told FMT.

“But, personally, I don’t want to contest again. If he (Tengku Zafrul) doesn’t contest, I will give way to a younger leader.”