Farkhann Rastigil, who heads the party’s Kluang chapter, said the group attended the ceramah only as observers. He added that Muda’s central leadership still had not decided if it would back PN in the by-election.

“We are only here to celebrate the festival of democracy that is happening in Mahkota,” he told FMT.

When asked whether he would attend the Barisan Nasional (BN) ceramah as well, Farkhann replied that the BN candidate, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, is a close friend.

“Maybe I won’t attend his ceramah as a party member but as a friend,” he said. “I’m a voter in Mahkota, so I would like to know what they (BN) can offer as well.”

Last night, PN information chief Azmin Ali said he hoped that Muda would support the coalition in the Mahkota state by-election.

Noting the presence of the Muda members at the ceramah, he claimed that they had informed him they would help PN in the by-election campaign.

Azmin, who is also PN’s director for the Mahkota by-election, said the fact that Muda members were present last night was a “good sign” that they would assist PN.

Last week, Muda said it would sit out the Mahkota by-election and not nominate any candidate, as it wanted to focus on strengthening its grassroots in Johor.

Muda did not contest in any of the previous by-elections too, including the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan last month and the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in Selangor in May.

No support for any party in Mahkota

Meanwhile, in a statement released this afternoon, Muda’s central leadership announced that it would not be supporting any party in the Mahkota by-election.

“There have been no discussions or commitments to support any party in the by-election,” it said.

Muda added, however, that it was open to discussions and negotiations on the matter but any decision would only be finalised by the party’s executive committee.

The Mahkota by-election, which will take place on Sept 28, is a straight fight between Syed Hussien and PN’s Haizan Jaafar.

Early voting has been set for Sept 24.