Hadi’s son-in-law Umno-friendly?

A pro-PAS blogger has accused party president Abdul Hadi Awang's son-in-law of tweaking the candidates list in Selangor.

PETALING JAYA: Did PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son-in-law meddle with the final list of PAS candidates for Selangor? .

Pro-PAS blogger Tulang Besi seems to think so. He claims Zahruddin Muhamad is the reason why Selangor is facing a ‘multiple seat’ race.

Zaharuddin is a PAS Youth exco who sits in the party’s Syura Council.

The three state seats in question in Selangor are Kota Damansara, Paya Jaras and Taman Templer

PSM’s Kota Damansara incumbent Dr Nasir Hashim is contesting on a PKR ticket.

Others competing for the seat are Umno-Barisan Nasional’s Halimaton Saadiah Borhan, PAS’ Ridzuan Ismail and three Independents – Halmi Omar, Edros Abdullah, and A Suppiah.

According to sources present at the nomination centre yesterday, Ridzuan’s nomination for Kota Damansara was a surprise.

Apparently local PAS members were unaware of Ridzuan’s entry for the 13th general election.

Tulang Besi, who blogs at Malaysia Waves, claimed that Zaharuddin had a role in obtaining PAS’ authorisation letter.

Ridzuan’s authorisation letter, the blogger said, was signed by Hadi.

This was contrary to the standard practice of the Islamist party. By convention the authorisation letter is always signed by PAS secretary general – Mustafa Ali.

“Only Zaharuddin Muhammad, otherwise known as Din Ayam, has the contact and the clout to convince his father-in-law (Hadi) to sign the authorisation letter. Even Mustafa is unaware about it,” said the blogger.

He alleged that that Zaharuddin had worked hand-in-glove with PAS’ Subang commissioner, Mesni Dahlan.  It was Mesni who had announced PAS’ intention to field a candidate in Kota Damansara.

Zaharuddin supportive of Umno

Meanwhile in the Taman Templer and Paya Jaras seats, Tulang Besi claimed the candidates were switched.

In Taman Templer seat, he  claimed that Zaharuddin was instrumental in ensuring that local favorite and constituency coordinator, known only as, Mat was sidelined.

PAS fielded instead Zaidy Abdul Talib against incumbent Umno-BN Subahan Kamal and independent Roslan Baharuddin.

Zaidy and Zaharuddin are close buddies in the PAS Youth movement and are supportive of a Umno – PAS unity government plan that was formerly-led by ex-PAS commissioner, Hasan Ali.

In Paya Jaras, Umno-BN incumbent Bushro Mat Johor  is up against Khairuddin Othman.

According to Tulang Besi, there were attempts to convince Khairuddin against contesting in Paya Jaras as the seat was being eyed by Mesni. But Khairuddin ignored the ‘advise’.

Meanwhile attempts to contact Selangor PAS commissioner Rani Osman and his second deputy Khalid Samad to clarify the allegations were futile.