The decision to field Syed Hussien was announced by Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who is also BN’s Mahkota by-election director, reported Bernama.

Yesterday, it was reported that Umno had shortlisted two candidates for the Mahkota by-election from the party’s youth and women’s wings.

Johor DAP vice-chief Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali was quoted as saying that besides Syed Hussien, Kluang Wanita Umno vice-chief Zainani Jamaluddin had also been shortlisted.

The Mahkota by-election is being called following the death of its incumbent Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, who died on Aug 2.

Wanita Umno had previously demanded that it be allowed to defend the seat previously won by Sharifah.

However, Umno Youth said it wanted to contest the Johor state seat, especially after Kelantan Umno Youth chief Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani scored a convincing 3,352-vote majority win in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan last month.

The Election Commission has set Sept 14 for nomination and early voting on Sept 24 for the Mahkota by-election.

At the Johor state election in 2022, Sharifah won the seat with a 5,166-vote majority over Amanah’s Taqiuddin Cheman.