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Stay out of by-elections, PAS warns opposition bloc

PETALING JAYA: PAS wants to contest in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections and has called on other parties in the opposition bloc to back off.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said they should not fight each other as it would be counter-productive to their common aim of toppling Barisan Nasional.

“The by-election is not a venue to showcase strength,” he said.

Stressing that the two seats had traditionally been contested by PAS, Tuan Ibrahim said a multi-cornered fight would only split votes in favour of Barisan.

“Action by other opposition parties to field their candidates can thus be construed as an attempt to rescue Barisan,” he added.

He said this in response to a suggestion by Parti Amanah Negara communication director Khalid Samad for a Pakatan Harapan candidate to take on PAS and Barisan in the battle for the two parliamentary seats in Selangor and Perak.

The two seats fell vacant following the deaths of Sungai Besar MP Datuk Noriah Kasnon and Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5.

Tuan Ibrahim said the focus of the opposition bloc should be on toppling Barisan.

“If others in the opposition truly want to see Barisan defeated, they should not resort to being vote spoilers,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim also took a swipe at those making baseless claims that PAS would unite with Umno to form a unity government.

Former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who quit PAS to join PKR, agreed that the opposition front should let the Islamist party contest the two seats in a straight fight.

The former Umno member said the Opposition should show its commitment in working as a united front to wrest control of Putrajaya in the next general election.

“Contesting to lose is not a smart option. Now is the time to consolidate,” he said.

The Election Commission will announce the date of the by-elections today.-thestar

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