Pakatan leader cautious over polls chances

The three partners of the Pakatan opposition political pact have expressed their desire to work hard to win the Tenang state seat in the by-election on Jan 30.

The by-election is a straight fight between Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, 39, of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Normala Sudirman, 38, of PAS. The nomination was held today.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the Pakatan pact would strive hard to garner the support of the voters, particularly the younger people.

He said he believed the younger voters would go for change and support Normala (right in pic), who is chief of the Labis PAS women's wing.

"Non-Muslim voters will also support the PAS candidate," he told reporters after the nomination at the Labis District Council office in Labis.

Abdul Hadi said national and local issues would be raised during the campaign.

Sand theft in Johor

PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali said the opposition pact would use its work track record in Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Selangor to woo the voters.

He said that though Pakatan hoped for a win, it would consider the current situation in a realistic manner and make use of the opportunity of the polls to explain national issues and the pact's policy to get more people involved in the economy.
 
DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said issues such as water, sand theft in Johor and Felda matters would be raised in the campaign.

The by-election is being held following the death of the three-term assemblyman, Datuk Sulaiman Taha of the BN, on Dec 17.

- Bernama