TG PIAI POLLS | Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Tanjung Piai by-election will serve as a litmus test for whether Bersatu can claim that it is the voice of the Malays.

"The by-election is about Bersatu's future. If Bersatu fails in Tanjung Piai, it is a sign that Bersatu cannot be the voice of the Malays.

"Bersatu's defeat in Tanjung Piai will also weaken its position in Pakatan Harapan," he said in a statement today.

Likewise, Khaled said the by-election will also have national implications for Muafakat Nasional, the pact between Umno and PAS.

While neither parties are contesting in the by-election, PAS has decided to support Umno's BN ally, MCA.

"It will also test the extent of Muafakat Nasional's acceptance amongst the people.

"It will be an important test to measure the people's acceptance of the new political formula between Umno and PAS,' he said.

He added the by-election will also be a referendum on the Harapan government's performance in that those who were dissatisfied would make themselves heard.

"Local issues will continue to be a priority but there will also be many national issues," he said.

The Tanjung Piai by-election will see a six-way contest.

The two main candidates are Bersatu's Karmaine Sardini and MCA's Wee Jeck Seng.

The other candidates are Berjasa's Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, Gerakan's Wendy Subramaniam and independent candidates Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.

In the last general election, Bersatu's Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik garnered 21,255 votes against MCA's Wee who received 20,731 votes, winning by a 524-vote margin.

He passed away from a heart attack in September, triggering the by-election.

Campaigning for the Tanjung Piai by-election officially begins today and voters will go to the polls on Nov 16.