KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Parti Amanah Negara today backed Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad to defend his Kuala Selangor seat, despite the latter saying he wants to make way for a younger candidate.

Its deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that the party's leadership had earlier acknowledged Dzulkefly’s intent to stand down, but now wants him to contest the seat amid rumours that Umno will place incumbent finance minister Tan Sri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz there.

"This is because this GE15 is very critical and serious to us. Every seat that we win is crucial for Pakatan Harapan,” he said in a statement here.

"We believe he can defend this seat because of the good work he’s done all this while. The people of Kuala Selangor have seen his dedication in helping the people, on top of his work at the state level Covid-19 task force and even during his tenure as health minister."

Dzulkefly previously served as health minister in the short-lived Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

Two of the state seats in the constituency are also held by PH while a third is currently in the hands of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.

Dzulkefly previously said he was looking to retire from politics, a decision he said he had already informed his party in advance.

However, he said he would consider throwing his hat in the ring if Umno nominates a "heavyweight” such as Tengku Zafrul for the seat.

In August, Malay Mail reported that Tengku Zafrul has been making weekend visits to Kuala Selangor, in what can only be interpreted as his bid to turn the constituency into a springboard to full-time politics.

A significant number of voters in Kuala Selangor also reside in spanking new housing developments in Puncak Alam, a pleasant slice of suburbia bordering Shah Alam and Klang.