Permatang Pauh PAS ‘pressured’ to help PKR in by-election

(Bernama) – Permatang Pauh PAS division chief Omar Hassan was ‘pressured’ by national and state leaders to retract his decision not to help PKR in the Permatang Pauh by-election, said a former Penang PAS leader.

Earlier, Omar had defended PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s stand to implement hudud law in Kelantan.

“When Mat Sabu (PAS deputy president) pressured Omar, he had no choice but to obey the command. Before doing so, Omar should have referred to Hadi’s statement respecting the decision of Permatang Pauh PAS,” he said today.

Permatang Pauh PAS had passed a motion demanding PKR retract its decision not to support a private member’s bill to enable the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan and apologise if they want PAS to support PKR in the by-election.

However, on April 25, Omar said the crisis was over and the apology issue did not arise after a meeting with PKR president and candidate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The former Penang PAS leader was also sceptical with Omar’s statement that he received instructions from PAS’ Ulama Syura Council to help Pakatan Rakyat.

This was because the Ulama Syura Council was not involved in such matters and most likely referred to the PAS central committee.

He said that PKR should realise that PAS was instrumental in their big win in Permatang Pauh but the show of friendship was not appreciated.

“Penang PAS Youth chief Yusni Mat Piah, Omar and Permatang Pauh PAS should have defended the PAS president from insults by DAP and PKR.

“PAS members have the right to defend the party president, principles and the goal to implement hudud law in Kelantan.”

The by-election is a four-cornered fight between Suhaimi Sabudin (BN), Dr Wan Azizah (PKR), Azman Shah Othman (PRM) and Salleh Isahak (Independent).

It was called after the Pardons Board rejected a petition filed by the family of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, thus disqualifying him as the MP for Permatang Pauh.

Anwar was sentenced to five years jail for sodomy.

In the 2013 general election, Anwar retained the seat by defeating BN candidate Dr Mazlan Ismail with a majority of 11,721 votes.