Umno Youth has activated its machinery to woo young voters in the run-up to the Pengkalan Kubur state by-election on Sept 25.

Its chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, said young voters comprised 45 percent of those who would be casting their ballots that day.

Barisan Nasional (BN) won the Pengkalan Kubur seat in the 13th general election held last year.

"It is therefore important that we try to win the favour of these young voters to ensure that the seat remains with us," he told reporters after participating in an aerobics exercise organised by Era FM radio here today.

The by-election was called following the death of assemblyman Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, of cancer, at a hospital in Guangzhou, China, on Aug 20.

In the general election last year, Noor Zahidi defeated PKR candidate Saharun Ibrahim and Independent Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary with a majority of 1,736 votes.

The Election Commission has set Sept 13 for nomination and Sept 25 for polling.