PKR gives way to Pas to contest Kelantan seat

(NST) – PKR has taken the first step to stop its deteriorating ties with Pas by giving way to its Pakatan ally for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

After the exchange of many harsh words between leaders of both parties over the Selangor leadership crisis, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday said her party had decided to forego from once again contesting the state seat in Kelantan for the sake of solidarity with Pas and strengthening the Pakatan coalition.

Dr Wan Azizah said Pakatan would be able to face Barisan Nasional in the election if there was “tolerance, understanding and open hearts and minds” among opposition alliance leaders.

“I believe that we must refocus our efforts on the wishes of the people in our fight against Umno and BN,” she said.

“It is because of this that PKR has decided to allow Pas to contest the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, in the spirit of understanding, compromise and magnanimity.”

Dr Wan Azizah’s deputy, Azmin Ali, had last month voiced PKR’s intention to contest the seat as it had been assigned to do so by the Pakatan leadership in the past two general elections. PKR candidates had lost in 2008 and last year.

A few days after Azmin’s statement, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said a Pas candidate would have a better chance of winning the by-election.

The Pengkalan Kubor by-election will be held on Sept 25, following the death of BN’s three-term assemblyman, Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, who was also Kelantan BN deputy chairman, on Aug 20 due to cancer.

Noor Zahidi won the seat in last year’s general election with a 1,736-vote majority in a three-cornered fight against PKR’s Saharun Ibrahim and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary. Pas had won the seat in 1999, but then lost it in 2004.

In the 1999 general election, Pas’ Wan Husain Wan Ahmad won the seat by 2,432 votes, but lost by 714 votes to Noor Zahidi in 2004.

PKR’s Hasan Ibrahim performed better in the 2008 general election, losing by only 100 votes to Noor Zahidi.

Kelantan Pas Commissioner and Menteri
Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob yesterday expressed his gratitude to PKR for allowing his party to contest the Pengkalan Kubor seat.

In his statement to Pas’ organ, Harakah Daily, Ahmad said he believed that Pas would be able to wrest the seat from BN.