BN will be fielding Wee Jeck Seng for the Tanjung Piai by-election, against heavy lobbying by Umno for a shot at the Malay-majority constituency.

This was confirmed by the Tanjung Piai MCA division, which has urged supporters to gather at the Pontian MCA division headquarters tonight for the announcement.

Similarly, Malaysiakini has learnt that a special briefing this evening about Wee's candidacy for Tanjung Piai Umno division leaders by Johor Umno head Hasni Mohammad.

The Tanjung Piai Umno division had previously nominated their leader Jefridin Atan for the contest.

Wee is a two-time Tanjung Piai MP. He failed to retain his seat during the parliamentary elections last year, losing by just three digits to Pakatan Harapan's Dr Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik.

The experienced Wee will have to take on Gerakan deputy secretary-general Wendy Subramaniam and Tanjung Piai Bersatu division head Karmaine Sardini.

This contest will likely be a much-watched affair as this is BN's first electoral outing since the signing of the Umno-PAS charter of cooperation.