PAS has rubbished claims suggesting that it is being used by Gerakan for the Penang state polls.
According to the Islamist party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man all parties in Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting in the forthcoming state elections as a coalition rather than an individual party.
“Both PAS and Gerakan are component parties in PN. We are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as an individual party,” the Kubang Kerian MP was reported as saying following a ceramah in Paroi last night (July 30).
“Our fielded candidates have already received their ‘watikah’ (appointment letter to contest in the state elections) from PN (and not from PAS or Gerakan).”
Previously, speculations about PAS being used by Gerakan in the Aug 12 Penang state election came to light after PN made the decision to field Penang PN chairman Datuk Dominic Lau as its candidate for the Bayan Lepas state seat.
On July 26, Kosmo reported that the Bayan Lepas PAS division had threatened to give nomination day a miss if Lau was named as a candidate for the Malay-majority seat. It also threatened to shut down its operation centres.
The seat had been a traditional PAS seat since the 12th general election and voters, according to the report, were demanding for a Malay candidate.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the seat in 2018 with a 5,245-vote majority. Election Commission data indicated that PH received 40% of the votes, PAS (38%), BN (20%) and others (1%).
Lau has since then brushed aside such a claim, claiming that “poor communication” was to be blamed for the PAS division to boycott the polls should he be fielded for the state seat.
Lau on to dismiss claims that he used his “connections” at the national level to lobby for a state seat.
He also said whatever issues that Penang PN has should be resolved internally and not through the media.
On separate matters, Tuan Ibrahim stressed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission need to act independently, especially in issues involving public disputes related to elements of corruption.
He also insisted that the agency be stricter so that people do not lose faith and trust in the anti-corruption watchdog.
The call by Tuan Ibrahim came following MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s statement that the allocation of grants by the federal government to the youth of Terengganu was not illegal or corrupt.
Azam was commenting on the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of RM100,000 grant for the Central Development Authority (Ketengah) youth association and RM250,000 for the Terengganu Youth Council.
“Perhaps we need a guideline on what can be announced and what is against (the election regulation),” Tuan Ibrahim reckoned.
“Be clear and fair. Do not say (it is against the election regulation) when the opposition prepare a bus to transport their supporters.” – July 31, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
