Close ranks, PAS members told

Despite the unhappiness simmering within PAS over the Kajang fiasco, party deputy president Mohamad Sabu has called on PAS members to close rank and throw support behind Pakatan Rakyat’s candidate for the seat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Mohamad, who is also known as Mat Sabu, stressed that Pas Youth will not be boycotting the Kajang by-election, despite the earlier threat to do so by the Pas Selangor Youth.

“That is their personal opinion,” he told reporters at a joint press conference with Anwar, held at Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s headquarters on Wednesday.

He added that members’ personal opinions did not reflect the party’s stand over the matter.

PAS’s central committee member Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi had also blasted PKR for the political move, calling it haram or forbidden to betray the trust of the voters.

“It seems that anyone can step down from their post so that a by-election can be called to give way to another person. It’s as if they are just playing around,” said the former PAS Youth chief in his Facebook page on Tuesday.

Nasruddin added that a by-election is not to test power, test the market or for a test drive.

PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh had resigned from the seat he won in the 13th general election through a letter sent to the state assembly speaker, stating that the move would enable the party to serve the people of Selangor better.

His action had taken several Pakatan Rakyat leaders by surprise and earned the criticism of many including the Bersih 2.0 electoral watchdog.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali called on PAS leaders and members to refrain from making speculative statements on the Kajang state seat and the Selangor Menteri Besar’s position.

He told Harakah Daily that until now PAS and Pakatan Rakyat have not talked about the Selangor MB’s position but only discussed the Kajang state seat.

“In practice, whatever seat that is vacant due to whatever reasons, the candidate who will fill the role will be from the party that contested in the area previously,” he said.

Mustafa added that whoever the PKR names as candidate, will be supported by the PR component parties.

He reminded PAS leaders and members to comply with the decision reached by consensus by PR on the Kajang state seat.

On Tuesday, Selangor MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announced Anwar as the candidate for the Kajang state seat.

The Election Commission will be meeting on Feb 5 to discuss the date for the by-election.