KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), and Pakatan Harapan, should contest in the June 18 twin by-elections despite PAS expressing a similar intention, an Amanah leader said.
Amanah Vice-President Mujahid Yusof Rawa added that the Opposition pact should be clear about its perspective, regardless of what people thought.
“These by-elections are a barometer of the coming general election which will depict a very clear picture of PH versus Barisan Nasional.
“That cannot be achieved unless we go in now. Amanah and PH should define what perspective we desire, not what the people desire,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.
He also said it was normal for Amanah to contest seats contested by PAS. This, the Parit Buntar MP added, was practised even in Penang where Amanah “took over” PAS seats following the breakdown of Pakatan Rakyat.
Mujahid said his party had informed PH of its intention to contest the two parliamentary seats of Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, and that an official announcement on the candidates would be made soon
Meanwhile, he said, PH should figure out its stand on PAS.
“Do we consider PAS as part of PH or just as an opposition party? I would say give priority to PH rather than PAS.”
Mujahid then sarcastically asked: “How do we define PAS as Opposition? Just because they are not in BN?”
The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar seats became vacant when incumbent MPs Noriah Kasnon and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad died in a helicopter crash in Sarawak.
The Elections Commission has decided that both contests will run simultaneously, with polling day set for June 18. Source