Penang PAS Youth's turnaround to support PKR in the Permatang Pauh by-election is still no guarantee that the opposition could win with big majority, said political analyst Dr Azizuddin Mohd Sani.
He said this was because PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, had yet to make his own stand or issue a clear directive to party members and supporters to vote for PKR's candidate, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Azizuddin, who lectures at the Centre for International Studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) said there could still be elements of "sabotage" against PKR.
“There is the central leadership's directive to help in the campaign, but to help in the campaign is one matter and to vote is another matter.
“There is the possibility of split votes. People may feel as if they are being forced to support PKR in the by-election,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Azizuddin said while PAS members and supporters would not vote for BN, they could still opt not to vote, or cast spoilt ballot papers.
Some, like this group claiming to be PAS members, have made it clear they would not support PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the Permatang Pauh by-election.
Only a clear directive from the PAS president would ensure PKR winning with a big majority.
“Hadi should intervene and direct PAS members to vote for Dr Wan Azizah. But now there is no such directive,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Penang PAS Youth reversed its decision not to campaign for Dr Wan Azizah, the PKR president who is defending the northern seat following her husband's jailing for sodomy in February.
Penang PAS Youth had launched a "boycott" at the beginning of the by-election campaign, after it demanded apology from PKR Youth who it said accused Hadi of working with Umno.
Penang PAS Youth chief, Yusni Mat Piah, now said the state wing would obey the PAS central leadership and help PKR in the campaign, saying it wanted to ensure the seat remained with the opposition pact.
Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) agreed with Azizuddin, saying Hadi should give a clear directive to PAS members to vote for Dr Wan Azizah.
“To which extent voters will come out and vote for PKR is yet to be assured. This is because the PAS president is yet to issue statement on this matter.
“We see they are compromising behind the scenes but it may be temporary until the by-election is over,” he said.
Another analyst, Dr Ahmad Tarmzi Talib, said the new position by the state PAS wing would not bring much change to PKR's bid for the seat.
“The winning majority is not important because Permatang Pauh is their stronghold. In our election system, winning by a majority of one is also considered a win,” he said.
Anwar first won the seat in 1982 and has held it since under the Barisan Nasional, except from 1999 to 2008, during which time his wife Dr Wan Azizah was the MP. Months after winning the seat in the 12th general election in 2008, Dr Wan Azizah vacated it to make way for Anwar's return to active politics.
The coming polls on May 7 will see a four-cornered fight between Dr Wan Azizah, BN newcomer Suhaimi Sabudin, independent candidate Salleh Isahak, and Azhar Shah Othman from Parti Rakyat Malaysia.
The seat fell vacant after the Pardons Board rejected an application for clemency filed by Anwar's family against his prison sentence.
BN's Suhaimi Sabudin and PKR's Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (far right) with two other candidates during nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-election.
Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail term for sodomy. His conviction was upheld by the Federal Court on February 10.
Some 70% of voters in the constituency are Malay and support from PAS is seen as crucial, especially in the Permatang Pasir state seat which it controls. The other two state seats, Seberang Jaya and Penanti, are held by PKR.
In the last general election, PAS recorded the biggest majority in Permatang Pasir state seat with 6,826 votes, compared to a 2,459 majority in Seberang Jaya, and 2,339 in Penanti. - TMI
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