Penang PAS Youth will boycott P. Pauh by-election

Penang PAS Youth will stay out of the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election campaign, said its chief Mohd Yusni Mat Piah.

He said the decision was made because PKR Youth had refused to apologise for allegedly issuing a slanderous statement against PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, when the deadline ended on Saturday.

"State PAS Youth machinery and personnel will be 'rested' from any work throughout the Permatang Pauh by-election. Our operation centres will not be open. All premises under Penang PAS Youth will not be allowed to be used for the by-election.

"In fact, our Alternative Riding Club (ARC), Jabatan Amal Negeri security personnel and PASTI teachers will also stay out," he said in a statement here Sunday.

Mohd Yusni said the wing would also decline any invitation to speak at any 'ceramah' (political talks) throughout the by-election.

The Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election is being held following the decision of the Pardons Board to reject the petition for a royal pardon sought by its member of parliament Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through his family, resulting in Anwar losing his eligibility as MP.

Anwar is currently undergoing a five-year prison sentence on a charge of sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The Election Commission has fixed polling day on May 7.