No go, says Kedah Gerakan over use of PAS logo

 

M Marimuthu Selvan said Gerakan was to have contested the parliamentary seats of Alor Setar and Sungai Petani, both of which have a sizable non-Malay population.

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Gerakan has decided to sit out the upcoming parliamentary polls as Perikatan Nasional (PN) has decided to use PAS’ moon logo in next month’s general election (GE15).

State Gerakan chief M Marimuthu Selvan said the decision was made by the party’s central leadership last weekend but he emphasised that this would not affect its cooperation with PAS.

PN had decided that it would contest under the PAS banner in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu as part of an election strategy.

“We want to use the PN logo, but since PAS has insisted that we use theirs, we are opting out in Kedah.

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“We have now asked for the seats allocated to us in Kedah to be exchanged with those given to our allies in other states.

“Nevertheless, Gerakan will continue to support PAS and Bersatu in their election campaigns in Kedah,” Marimuthu told FMT.

However, he said if the Gerakan leadership decides that it must use the PAS logo and contest the seats in Kedah, then the state chapter would abide by it.

He said his party was to have contested the parliamentary seats of Alor Setar and Sungai Petani, both of which have a sizable non-Malay population.

He said the decision to sit out was a “strategic one” as using the PAS logo might not go down well with non-Muslims.

“The controversial issues of controlling alcohol sales and closing 4D shops goes against the wishes of the Chinese electorate.

“We are a multiracial party in the present government,” he said.

Kedah has 15 parliamentary seats. In the last general election, PH won 10 seats while PAS won three and Barisan Nasional the remaining two.

However, three of the seats won by PH were by candidates from Bersatu, which is now part of PN.

Yesterday, Gerakan secretary-general Mak Kah Keong said the party had no problem contesting under the PAS banner.

“The issue was discussed in Kedah recently and it should be no problem for Gerakan to comply in the event a decision is made by the leadership,” he reportedly said. - FMT