PAS sticks with local faces for Merlimau, Kerdau

Nik Aziz announced PAS’s Kerdau candidate last night. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — PAS will field local leaders in both the Merlimau and Kerdau by-elections, matching Umno’s strategy in the simultaneous March 6 polls.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was in Kerdau last night to announce that Pahang information chief Hassanudin Salim will run again in Kerdau, despite being beaten by the late Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim in 2008 by a margin of 1,615 votes. The Temerloh PAS secretary will face Kuala Krau Umno deputy chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, who is also special religious officer to Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakop.

Jasin deputy chief Yuhaizat Abdullah will contest in his first election against Roslan Ahmad, a committee member for Umno Jasin.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang announced in Merlimau last night that the Malacca deputy youth chief will be tasked with overcoming the 2,154-vote deficit to the late Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan.

Both candidates will be nominated tomorrow in what are seen as uphill battles in states that opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR) considers to be frontline states for the next general election. - Malaysian Insider