The leader, who asked to remain anonymous, told FMT the decision not to field a candidate was made by Muda’s central executive committee.

No reasons were provided.

“The party will not be rooting for Pakatan Harapan (PH),” the leader said, alluding to Muda’s break-up with the coalition after its founder, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, left the government bloc last September.

“But neither will we be pledging support for any particular party.”

It is learnt that the decision to sit out the by-election was unanimous.

Muda will be holding a joint press conference with Parti Sosialis Malaysia on the by-election later today.

The last polls in which Muda participated were the six state elections in August 2023, where the party lost all of the 19 seats it contested. Its candidates also lost their deposits.

It sat out the by-elections in Pulai and Simpang Jeram out of respect for the late MP and assemblyman, Salahuddin Ayub, who died in July.

The May 11 by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu was called after the death of its three-term assemblyman, Lee Kee Hiong, from cancer.

On Wednesday, DAP announced Pang Sock Tao as PH’s candidate for the seat. Pang is DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming’s press secretary.

Perikatan Nasional meanwhile named Bersatu’s Hulu Selangor acting chief, Khairul Azhari Saut, as its candidate last night.