Mohd Nizar Najib was expected to continue the family’s legacy in the Pekan seat in Pahang, held by his father, jailed former premier Najib Abdul Razak, and his grandfather, second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, for more than six decades.

However, Umno decided to field the 44-year-old politician in the Peramu Jaya state assembly seat instead.

Nizar, who is making his electoral debut, believes...