'Ulama' no longer main criteria for PAS for choosing election candidates

Being an ulama (Islamic religious expert) is no longer an important criteria for PAS in choosing election candidates, said Kelantan PAS Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

Ahmad, who is also the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, said whether the party's candidate was an ulama or non-ulama had no bearing on its supporters.

He said this was why the party had chosen a businessman to be its candidate for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

He told this to reporters after the nomination process for the by-election at the Tumpat Land and District Office here today.

PAS is fielding a local, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim, 56, who is a building contractor and Tumpat PAS secretary, as its candidate for the by-election, polling of which is on Sept 25.

The contest is a three-cornered fight with the other candidates being Mat Razi Mat Ail, 48, from the Barisan Nasional and Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary, 47, an independent.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, when met at the nomination centre, said with Wan Rosdi being a local and a community activist, the party was confident of wresting the seat from, BN.

He said PAS would rely on its manifesto for the last general election and its strategy was to do house-to-house campaigning to win over voters.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua, meanwhile, said although PKR was making way for PAS to contest the seat this time, he was confident voters would support Wan Rosdi.

"This by-election is important as it will be an indicator of Pakatan Rakyat's strength in Kelantan," he said.

The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, from BN, on Aug 20.

In the last general election, Noor Zahidi beat Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate, Shaharun Ibrahim and independent, Izat Bukhary Ismail Mukhary with a majority of 1,736 votes.