[4] The incumbent, Johari had held the seat for only 9 months since the 15th General Election on 19 November 2022, representing the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party under the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

[7][8] Pakatan Harapan (PH), the other major party in the country, decided not to contest this by-election, instead helping to campaign on behalf of its partner in the federal and state government, BN.

[11] Amizar, an UMNO Bentong Committee member, had previously contested in Ketari in the 2022 Pahang state election but lost by a slim majority of 120 votes.

[12] Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, the president for NGO Pertubuhan Suara Anak Pahang (PSAP) is the first person to announce his intention to contest as independent on 29 August.

[15] His motivation to contest the election is to bring the local and youth voice to the State Assembly,[13][15] and also in protest of UMNO's choice of Amizar as its candidate for the by-election.