The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kuala Kangsar by-election, Mastura Mohd Yazid, who is in 'iddah' - the period of waiting which Muslim women must observe following death of spouse, or divorce - need not be present on nomination day on June 5, says Umno information chief Annuar Musa.

Annuar said this was because the existing rules did not require a candidate to do so.

According to the rules set by the Election Commission (EC), those who should be present were the proposer and seconder, he added.

"The proposer and seconder must be present, but not (necessarily) the candidate.

"Therefore, Mastura not need be present," Annuar told reporters after visiting the Kuala Kangsar Hospital yesterday.

He said this when asked by reporters on Mastura's presence during nomination day after the widow of Kuala Kangsar MP, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, had apologised for not being able to participate in the campaigning for the by-election, this time around.

Asked whether Mastura would be represented by her son during the nomination process, Annuar said: "Under the election rules, the candidate is allowed to appoint his or her representative.

"Mastura has her own representatives and (it may) not necessarily (be) her son. It could be anyone."

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had announced that the widow of the Kuala Kangsar MP was named as the candidate for the by-election.

Iddah a period of four months, 10 days

Mastura, 55, said via a video recording that she could not participate in the campaign scheduled to begin on June 5, as she was still observing the 'iddah' period of four months and 10 days, as stipulated in Islam after the death of a husband.

In the 13th general election, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar won a majority of 1,082 votes, beating two candidates, namely Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah (PAS) and Kamilia Ibrahim (Independent).

The Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election will be held on June 18, following the death of Wan Mohammad in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

He was among six people who perished in the crash.

- Bernama