Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Permatang Pasir by-election Rohaizat Othman, a syariah legal advisor, is ready to face any attacks and allegations from the opposition parties.

"I'm prepared to face accusations from the opposition and will respond when the time is right. However, for the time being, I'll let Umno legal advisor Hafarizam Harun to explain," he said when met after the Permatang Pauh Umno divisional delegates meeting today.

NONERohaizat, who is Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary, said this when asked to comment on an allegation that his name was in the Malaysian Bar Council's black list.

Asked whether the allegation would affect his nomination, he said it was an old issue that had been resolved.

"I am a lawyer but have not been practicing since two years ago," he added.

The Permatang Pasir by-election is expected to be a three-cornered fight between Rohaizat, PAS' candidate Mohd Salleh Man, who is the party's state commissioner, and an independent candidate, Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

The Election Commission has fixed tomorrow for nomination, while polling is on Aug 25.

The Permatang Pasir seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman, from PAS, on July 31.

Veep Ahmad Zahid sees this as non-issue

Meanwhile Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Rohaizat was eligible to contest for the Permatang Pasir state seat by-election even if his civil lawyer's licence had been revoked by the Bar Council.

He said that the issue would not affect Rohaizat's chances in the by-election.

"Umno's legal advisor has run a check and found that he (Rohaizat) is still eligible to contest in Permatang Pasir," he told reporters after visiting the BN operations centre in Bukit Meraj, Jalan Permatang Pauh today.

Zahid, who is also Penang Umno liaison chief, was commenting on media reports pertaining to the revocation of Rohaizat's civil lawyer's licence by the Bar Council.

Ahmad Zahid said the licence was revoked in 2003 following problems incurred by the former partner in the legal firm.

"The Bar Council's decision must be respected by the lawyers registered under it. Legally, Rohaizat is probably innocent, but morally, it can be questioned by his opponents," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said Rohaizat could still serve as syariah lawyer if he chose to do so because only the syariah court could revoke his licence.

"This is an issue of public perception. We will explain to the voters what really happened," he said while admitting that the opposition would definitely use the issue to their advantage.

Division out to disprove detractors

Meanwhile, Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairperson Zainal Abidin Othman said BN will ensure victory in the by-election.

He said the BN machinery needed to work together to ensure the goal was accomplished.

"We have to prove to others that Umno is capable of placing its candidate in a favourable position in this by-election," he said when launching Permatang Pauh Umno delegates meeting today.

He said Permatang Pauh Umno needed to ensure the victory to disprove negative views of the division.

"We can prove to others that we can unite, stand up and rise to the slander thrown at us," he said.

-Bernama