With two days to go before nomination day, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has apparently decided to field a relatively unknown candidate for the Sungai Kandis by-election, contrary to suggestions by Selangor PKR.

A PKR leader close to its Selangor chief and former state menteri besar Mohd Azmin Ali confirmed to Malaysiakini a media report which stated that local candidate Zawawi Mughni is set to be fielded to contest the by-election.

This, according to two high-ranking party leaders who were not named, who told the Malay Mail that the name was put forth by the PKR leader, in spite of the state party division having picked Kota Damansara coordinator Mohd Razlan Jalaluddin to contest.

One of the leaders told the daily that Wan Azizah had specifically mooted Zawawi, an ustaz (religious teacher), during a political bureau meeting earlier this week.

"Initially Selangor had proposed Razlan's name, but Zawawi was proposed by the president," the leader was quoted to have said.

The second leader said the move has raised concerns over Zawawi's relative obscurity compared to Razlan.

"No idea why they want this candidate instead of Selangor (PKR’s) choice," the leader told the daily.

Malaysiakini understands Razlan had previously been the frontrunner to be nominated for the seat.

Umno is set to announce its candidate for the seat today.

Polling day for the Sungai Kandis by-election is Aug 4.

The seat fell vacant following the death of PKR incumbent Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei from complications with lymphoma on July 2.

In the 14th general election, the late Shuhaimi won with a 12,480-vote majority in a four-cornered fight for the Malay-majority seat.