PAS eyeing opposition leader post, claims Fahmi

Communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil dismisses unity government’s loss in Kemaman by-election, says it’s Bersatu that should be concerned about PAS’s ambitions.

(FMT) – Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil believes that PAS is eyeing the opposition leader’s post currently held by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

Dismissing claims that Barisan Nasional’s heavy defeat in Kemaman was a referendum against Putrajaya, Fahmi said the unity government is “not worried”.

“I think PAS is gunning for the opposition leader role,” Fahmi told reporters at an event here.

“So I think the ones who should be concerned right now are Bersatu, because it’s quite clear that PAS may push for or request for the position of opposition leader in the future.”

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s landslide victory in the Kemaman parliamentary by-election on Saturday proved that there was growing support for Perikatan Nasional.

He added that the BN-Pakatan Harpan coalition not only failed to woo new voters but also lost the support it once enjoyed.

Fahmi argued that BN’s defeat was not surprising since it is a PN stronghold, though PAS had only won the parliamentary seat for the first time in 2018.

“What about Pelangai then? The unity government won in Pelangai. (So) that’s a referendum on who?,” he said.

In the by-election for the Pelangai state seat in Pahang on Oct 7, BN emerged victorious as its candidate, Amizar Abu Adam, secured 7,324 votes over PN’s Kasim Samat, from PAS, who received 4,375 votes.