Mohamad Sabu among candidates listed for Sungai Besar by-election - Khalid

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu is among the names of candidates representing the party in the Sungai Besar Parliamentary by-election.

Amanah director of communications Khalid Abdul Samad said the party's deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin were also among those listed as candidates for the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-elections.

"They are among the candidates mentioned. We have many other names but they have yet to be decided," he told Bernama at the Parliament lobby, here today.

At a media conference earlier, Khalid had said that Amanah felt it was difficult for PKR to contest against PAS in the by-election as both parties have maintained cordial relations.

In this regard, he said Amanah was prepared to represent Pakatan Harapan in the by-election this time.

He said the PKR accepted the fact that PAS would not withdraw and focus should be given on strengthening the position of Pakatan Harapan in both the constituencies.

Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, when approached by reporters, said there was still room for discussion between the PKR and PAS on the candidate issue to ensure that only one candidate from the opposition contested against the Barisan Nasional in both the by-elections.

Mohamed Azmin said he had never met PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to discuss the candidate, but had already met with PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PAS central election director Datuk Mustafa Ali and the political secretary to the PAS president, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she still believed there was room for discussion with PAS in relation to the by-elections.

"We have to wait for PAS because they are the ones who want to contest in both of the seats," she said.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had a different stand and stressed that the party had closed its doors for any discussion with PAS on both the by-elections.

"The DAP is not having any talk with PAS," said the Bagan Member of Parliament.

The by-elections for Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar are being held following the death of their respective Members of Parliament namely Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and Datuk Noriah Kasnon, who was also the Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

The Election Commission has fixed June 18 for the simultaneous by-elections for the Parliamentary constituencies of Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar while nomination day is June 5.