The opposition has demonstrated the case of 'the pot calling the kettle black' when they recycle PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to be their candidate for Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, said Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.

This was because the opposition had recently 'condemned' BN's decision to field former assemblyman for Bukit Ibam and Tioman, Datuk Hasan Ariffin, 62, as the candidate for Rompin parliamentary by-election.

In fact, Pahang PAS Commissioner Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had even questioned if BN lacked any youthful fresh candidate which led Hasan to be a 'recycled candidate'.

UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the opposition were indeed hypocrites.

"They don't practice what they preach. So, the people in Permatang Pauh should be able to judge for themselves and make the right decision," he told reporters here.

Hishammuddin said he was surprised because despite their negative feedback on BN fielding an old face for the Rompin by-election, the opposition pack did exactly the same by nominating Dr Wan Azizah for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Dr Wan Azizah, who will turn 63 this December, is just a year older than Hasan, who will turn 62 this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob had this to say: "At least we only recycled Hasan one time, compared to them who recycled Dr Wan Azizah again and again."

Adnan also stressed that Hasan was chosen after much consideration and approval from the grassroots, which is the crucial element in ensuring the votes would come in for BN.

Hasan was Rompin assemblyman from 1982 to 1990 and served as Bukit Ibam assemblyman in 1990 until 2004, while Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Kajang assemblyman, was Permatang Pauh MP for three terms from 1990 before she stepped down after being re-elected in the 2008 general election to make way for her husband, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to re-enter politics.

Dr Wan Azizah is now contesting for the Permatang Pauh seat, which was declared vacant after her husband was again disqualified as MP when the Pardons Board rejected the petition for a royal pardon for him for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

She is challenged by Suhaimi Sabudin (BN), Salleh Isahak (Independent) and Azhar Shah Othman (Parti Rakyat Malaysia).

Polling is set on May 7.

Meanwhile, Rompin parliamentary by-election on May 5 will see a straight fight between Hasan and PAS candidate Nazri Ahmad, 40.

The seat was left vacant after its incumbent Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis died in a helicopter crash in Semenyih, Selangor on April 4.