GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan will field a winnable candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baru by-election on May 11 irrespective of race.
The party however, is not dismissing Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's assertion that fielding a Malay candidate stood a better chance of wresting the state seat.
Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said the candidate's race was not important.
"What we want is a candidate who can win, whether Malay, Chinese or Indian. If a Chinese stands a better chance of winning, a Chinese will be fielded. Same goes for a Malay.
"We are going into the by-election to win and not ruin our chances of winning by fielding the wrong candidate.
"We will listen to the views of all, especially those on the ground, who better know the situation, before we decide on the candidate," he told the New Straits Times.
Malay voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu makes up 46 per cent while Chinese voters 30.6 per cent.
Oh said all these would be key considerations, including Sanusi's views, in PN's next meeting.
"We will bring all this to the table for discussion soon," he added.
As it is, Oh said being a multi-racial party, Gerakan had shortlisted five potential candidates of diverse races for the by-election.
"We have Malay, Chinese, Indian and even Sikh.
"Ultimately, what is important is a winnable candidate, accepted by all," he said.
Yesterday, Sanusi said PN would stand a better chance of wresting the Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat by fielding a Malay candidate.
He said this was based on views gathered from grassroots in the constituency.
Sanusi said he would raise the matter at the PN's upcoming candidate selection meeting.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed May 11 for the KKB by-election.
The by-election is being held following the death of its three-term assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong from the DAP.
Lee died on March 21 after a battle with cancer.
