Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Federal parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was quickly confirmed to stand as the Pakatan Rakyat candidate in the by-election. Anwar's election would have enabled him to take a seat in the State Assembly of Selangor, and possibly challenge Khalid Ibrahim, a fellow PKR member, for the position of Menteri Besar. However, due to the swift conviction by the Court of Appeal in his sodomy case, his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail replaced him as the Pakatan Rakyat candidate. Barisan Nasional, which formed the opposition in the Selangor Assembly, named MCA vice president and former Petaling Jaya Utara MP Chew Mei Fun as their candidate.