Johor PAS leaves it to party leadership on Najib Lep's issue

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor PAS will not interfere in the issue involving Bukit Pasir incumbent Najib Lep who is contesting the seat as an independent candidate in the Johor state election and leave it to PAS central committee to decide.

Johor PAS commissioner Abdullah Hussin said as a member Najib must accept the decision of the party's leadership to field him in another seat even though he felt confident he could defend the Bukit Pasir seat.

"Therefore, PAS Johor leaves this issue to PAS central committee to investigate and take action in resolving the matter," he said in a press conference today.

As independent candidate in the Bukit Pasir seat, Najib will face PAS candidate Nur Iqbal Abdul Razak.

Earlier, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported as saying that Najib's membership has been terminated automatically.

Abdullah said the party's decision to field Najib in another state seat had been informed to him in advance and was not done at the last minute.

"The possibility for a candidate to act like this (disobeying the leadership's decision) could happen, so we are not surprised but we are upset that he made such an inappropriate decision," he said.

He added that Johor PAS has submitted a report regarding the issue to the party's central committee and would accept any decision made by the leadership.

-- BERNAMA