TERENGGANU Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said his less friendly approach leading up to the Kemaman by-election is to avoid another election result being annulled through a petition.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for the Kemaman by-election stated that they (PN) are being extra careful in this campaign, adding that the opposition’s machinery would not step into any eatery.
“I am very cautious because our opponent (Barisan Nasional), if dissatisfied, will file petitions,” Ahmad Samsuri was reported as saying by FMT today (Nov 23).
“That’s why we tend to avoid going to places that can be questioned.”
Ahmad Samsuri, who is also the PAS vice president, said this when asked why their opponents were friendlier on the campaign trail compared to PN.
The Ru Rendang assemblyman further said that his performance as Terengganu MB will not be affected, shall he be elected as the new Kemaman Member of Parliament (MP).
“The capabilities of the four assemblymen under the Kemaman parliamentary constituency can be very helpful for its MP.”
Meanwhile, Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said PAS’ decision to field Ahmad Samsuri in the Kemaman by-election is to enable him to represent “State Government 4” or SG4, the unofficial grouping of the four state governments it leads, in Parliament.
“Ahmad Samsuri’s candidacy was pivotal for amplifying the concerns and needs of SG4 in Parliament.
“He will represent us in voicing out against injustice in the distribution of development funds, especially in the four states.
“He will also represent other PAS leaders who aren’t in the Dewan Rakyat,” Sukri was reported as saying by FMT today (Nov 23).
On Sept 2, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad met with a top-level PAS delegation, including the MB of the four states.
Present at the 90-minute meeting were PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Kelantan MB Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, Ahmad Samsuri, Kedah MB Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Perlis MB Mohd Shukri Ramli.
On Sept 14, Ahmad Samsuri said an action plan for SG4 was in the works, with Dr Mahathir set to serve as their unofficial adviser.
Ahmad Samsuri said state government leaders from Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis had agreed in principle to work together with Dr Mahathir as its unofficial adviser focusing primarily on effective governance to ensure the proposed grouping will be managed efficiently.
Ahmad Samsuri will face Barisan Nasional’s candidate General (R) Tan Sri Raja Affandi Raja Noor, a retired army general, in a straight fight in the Dec 2 by-election.
The by-election was called following Terengganu Election Court’s annulment of the victory of PAS candidate Che Alias Hamid in the 15th General Election (GE15) last year.
This is after Judge Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis said the petitioner, voter Wan Mohamad Hisham Wan Abdul Jalil, succeeded in proving that corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters during GE15. – Nov 23, 2023
Main pic credit: The Star
