Perak PAS: Don't dream that our members will support Pejuang candidate

SLIM POLLS | Perak PAS has rejected Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar's claim that the party's veteran supporters in Slim have expressed dissatisfaction over PAS's close cooperation with Umno.

Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria instead gave his assurance that the members of the Islamic party will still support BN candidate Mohd Zaidi Aziz in the Slim by-election to be held tomorrow.

"I ask him not to dream. Our prediction is that PAS people still follow BN and they will not follow Pakatan Harapan," he told Malaysiakini after participating in an event organised by PAS supporters in Taman Seroja, Slim River, yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on Mahfuz's claim that PAS supporters who are over 50 years old will support independent candidate Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi who represents the Parti Pejuang Tanah Air led by ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"These (unhappy) PAS people all followed Mahfuz (and others) into Amanah, only about 10 percent of the party."

"Now there are PAS members sitting here, everyone will support BN," said Razman (above) who is also Perak state executive councillor for Education, Human Capital Development, Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Community.

Earlier, Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz had said that PAS veteran members did not agree with the stand of the PAS leadership in the Slim by-election.

"This is the fourth time I have come (to Slim). In general, PAS supporters aged 50 and above seem to give clear support to Amir. This will be seen during the voting later.

"I was also shocked, some who have been with PAS for a long time suddenly came to remind me of the old events (rivalry with Umno) and expressed their commitment to vote (to Amir).

"Although they did not declare their exit from PAS, they are not happy with PAS now working with Umno and supporting kleptocrats," he said.

Last Sunday, PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan issued a fatwa requiring party members to vote for Zaidi.

Aside from Amir Khusyairi and Zaidi, the third candidate is independent and former teacher S Santharasekaran.

The by-election was held after the incumbent assemblyperson Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib passed away last month. He had held the seat for four terms since first being elected in 2004. - Mkini