Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal claims PAS’ stand that it purportedly emphasises on the struggles for the Malay cause is a tactic to gain votes in the by-elections for the Merlimau state seat in Melaka and the Kerdau state seat in Pahang on March 6.      

Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal said if it were true that PAS gave priority to the Malay struggles, he challenged the party to voice the needs of the Malays in Penang as well as in the other states under the opposition pact administration.     

"I am convinced that this is the objective (of PAS spiritual leader) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) to gain support in the by-elections," he told reporters after a meeting with members of the Melaka Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) members in Merlimau, near Jasin, today.     

Yesterday, in his speech when opening a function at the Shah Alam City Council Auditorium, Nik Aziz said the struggles for the Malay cause must be given priority in view of its status as the indigenous race in the country.     

Mohd Shafie, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the PAS stand and approach could change and they were not only using religion but also race for their political gain.   

"This is nothing new, today he remembers, tomorrow he forgets (his pledges), so we should not be easily duped by the promises that are not fulfilled," he said.     

Meanwhile PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz Nik Mat's press office today rebuked Umno-linked Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for its Sunday edition front-page headline claiming that the Islamist party is changing its tune and currying up to the Malays.

MB: Kerdau pledges will be fulfilled

In another development, Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob in Temerloh today said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Pahang will fulfill all pledges made by the former Kerdau assemblyman.    

He said the state government would study all development projects promised and execute them according to priority.     

"The BN government does not make empty promises, all pledges made will be fulfilled in the interest of the people," he said after holding a meeting with the BN's election machinery for the Kerdau by-election.     

While in Kuantan, MCA deputy president Liong Tiong Lai, said Pahang MCA would be adopting a new approach dubbed "1Division, 10 Houses" in its Kerdau by-election campaign.     

"This will be more systematic and through this way we will be able to help resolve problems faced by voters in the Kerdau constituency," he told reporters after chairing a Pahang MCA Liaison Committee meeting in Kuantan today.     

Liow, who is also Pahang MCA chairman and Health Minister, said there was only a single Chinese community in Kerdau comprising 100 households with 455 registered voters and that party workers would go all out to get them to vote for the BN candidate.    

The BN candidate for the Kerdau by-election will be announced on Feb 22 while the candidate for Merlimau would be announced the following day.     

The Kerdau state seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent assemblyperson Zaharuddin Abu Kassim, 63, from the BN on Feb 12.    

Meanwhile, the vacancy for the Merlimau state seat was due to the death of the incumbent assemblyperson, Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, on Jan 20.   

- Bernama