PAS wants to announce by-election candidate Sept 11

Although it is yet to be finalised, PAS has started telling voters in Pengkalan Kubor last night that the party will be fielding its candidate in the by-election for the state constituency on Sept 25.

Other than holding ceramah, the party last night launched its by-election headquarters here which was officiated by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

Also present was Tumpat Member of Parliament Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar and Kelaboran State Assemblyman Mohd Zaki Ibrahim.

In fact, Mohamad, when met after the event, said the party would announce their candidate for the by-election on Sept 11, a day after Barisan Nasional (BN) announced its candidate.

Mohamad, however, said PAS would negotiate with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to finalise which party would be contesting in the by-election.

"We will accept whatever the outcome is despite our aspiration to contest the seat," he said, adding that the party would abide by the decision of the leaders of the opposition pact.

In his ceramah earlier, Kamaruddin, who is the Tumpat PAS chief, claimed PAS had the support of the grassroot which wanted the party to contest to replace PKR which, prior to this, had lost to BN in several general elections.

He said PAS must take back the seat to complete its victory at all four state seats in the Parliamentary area.

Other than the Pengkalan Kubor state seat, the other state constituencies in the Parliamentary area are Pasir Pekan, which is represented by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, Wakaf Baharu (Kelantan Executive Councillor Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi) and Kelaboran (Mohd Zaki).

The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, of BN due to liver cancer on Aug 20.

At the previous general election, the late Mohd Zahidi beat PKR candidate Saharun Ibrahim and independent Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary with a majority of 1,736 votes.

The Election Commission has fixed Sept 13 for nomination day.