Sg Besar by-election: PAS using religious bigotry to attack, says Amanah

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) strategy director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has claimed PAS was using religious bigotry to attack the party in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

"They (PAS) have stooped so low by claiming our party's (orange) colour copied that of a Buddhist priest's attire, and branding us 'nanar' (Kelantanese for mad).

"PAS hina warna sami (PAS insults the colour of a priest), that is very bigoted and is a form of religious bigotry at its worst," he told a press conference here today.

Dzulkefly was responding to a statement by PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah who had criticised Amanah for choosing the colour orange, describing it as similar to the saffron attire of priests.

Meanwhile, Amanah secretary-general Anuar Tahir said the issue of the 32 Amanah members who had openly voiced support for Sungai Besar by-election Barisan Nasional candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi yesterday, would not affect support for Amanah.

"I confirm they are members but it is entirely up to them to express their support for another candidate (Budiman). If they want to support Budiman, it is their prerogative," he said.

Also present at the press conference were PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar; Amanah vice-president Dr Hatta Ramli and DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok.

The Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election on June 18 will see a three-cornered contest involving Budiman, Amanah candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur and PAS candidate, Dr Abdul Rani Osman.

he by-election was necessitated by the death of incumbent Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon, who was also plantation industries and commodities deputy minister, in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.