KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth Wing would make early preparation for the by-election in the Sibu parliamentary constituency.

Its chief Fadillah Yusuf said the movement would work closely together with other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to ensure that the seat was retained by BN.

“We will do an early preparation … (and) we will (campaign) together with other BN component parties,” he said.

Fadillah said this to reporters when met after he had officiated at the Excellence Awards Ceremony at SMK Agama Tun Ahmad Zaidi yesterday.

The Sibu parliamentary seat fell vacant following the demise of its incumbent Datuk Robert Lau from liver cancer on Friday.

According to Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, the commission would only make an announcement on the by-election within 10 days after getting an official notification of the death.

“I expect the notice to be sent next Monday and after that the EC could have its meeting to determine the date for the nomination day and subsequently announce the by-election date,” he said.

Abdul Aziz said the EC had until the middle of the month to decide on the poll date.

Touching on the Hulu Selangor by-election which is to be held on April 25, Fadillah, who is also  the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said the movement would also be sending members to assist in the campaign.

“As usual, we will go the ground (to assist) and work together with other BN parties,” he said.

The seat fell vacant following the death of the incumbent Datuk Dr Zainal Abdidin Ahmd from Parti Keadilan Rakyat on March 25.

MIC deputy president Datuk G Palanivel, who held the seat from 1990 until 2008 (when he lost to Dr Zainal by 198 votes), is to represent the BN in the by-election.