Now, PAS says no to splitting opposition votes

The party which forced multi-cornered contests in the last polls says it will only fight the Sg Kandis by-election if it's a straight fight against PH.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (Bernama pic).

KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS said it would field a candidate for the upcoming Sungai Kandir by-election in Selangor on condition that it’s a straight fight against the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH), in a departure from its stance during the 14th general election.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, saying the party had not performed well in the state constituency last May, said anything other than a straight fight would split opposition votes.

“If other opposition parties, such as the Barisan Nasional, are not contesting, PAS is most likely to field its candidate for a straight fight,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He said the party wanted to avoid a split of opposition votes “which will only bring about similar results as in the GE14”.

A by-election will be called in Sungai Kandis following the death of PKR’s Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei on Jul 2.

Shuhaimi won the seat with 23,998 votes, defeating BN’s Kamaruzzaman Johari, PAS’ Mohd Yusof Abdullah (7,573), and PRM’s Hanafiah Husin (76).

In the months leading to the recent general election, PAS refused to be part of the PH coalition, despite repeated attempts by then opposition parties PKR and PPBM to get the Islamist party to agree on an electoral deal to avoid three-cornered fights against BN.

PAS, which was part of the former Selangor government comprising PKR and DAP, lost all but one state seat in the state.

The party however retained Kelantan and captured Terengganu. -FMT