BARISAN Nasional’s Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah’s command of Mandarin will give him the edge in the Mahkota by-election, according to Datuk Seri Johari Ghani.

The Umno vice-president said this was a big plus for the coalition’s candidate as nearly half of the seat’s 66,000 constituents are Chinese.

“Mandarin is used internationally… I envy him, I should have learned Mandarin when I was younger,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times on the sidelines of the by-election nomination today.

Johari noted that Syed Hussein’s multilingual prowess was not his only advantage.

“He has experience as a Kluang municipal council member,” he said.

Johari said Umno always chose candidates with a proven track record of serving the people.

Syed Hussein will take on Perikatan Nasional’s Mohammad Haizan Jaafar in a straight fight for the Johor state seat.

The by-election was called following the death of the Umno assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on August 2.

In the Johor state election in 2022, Sharifah won the seat with a 5,166-vote majority over Amanah’s Taqiuddin Cheman, in a four-cornered fight that included candidates from PN and Warisan.

There are 66,318 eligible voters in Mahkota, comprising 61,397 regular voters, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses; 401 police officers; and 10 registered overseas absentee voters.

The candidates will have 14 days to campaign, until 11.59pm on September 27, followed by voting on September 28, and early voting set for September 24.

This marks the 10th by-election since the 15th general election, following the by-elections for Kuala Terengganu (parliamentary), Simpang Jeram (state assembly), Pulai (parliamentary, Johor), Pelangai (state assembly, Pahang), Jepak (state assembly, Sarawak), Kemaman (parliamentary, Terengganu), Kuala Kubu Baharu (state assembly, Selangor), Sungai Bakap (state assembly, Penang), and Nenggiri (state assembly, Kelantan). – September 14, 2024.