P KUBOR PAS has threatened to cite Umno for contempt of court if it continues to attack the Islamic party-led Kelantan government on the oil royalty issue during the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

This comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin accused PAS of lying over the party's claim that the state was being deprived of oil royalty by Putrajaya.

PAS election adviser Takiyuddin Hassan (left) said Kelantan's oil royalty dispute with the federal government is currently being heard in court and therefore should not be used as fodder.

"I would like to remind that the oil royalty issue is a court matter and if any quarters play on it, we may raise an objection with the courts.

"Court matters cannot be discussed as it may be sub judice," he said.

When pointed out that PAS, too, has raised the state's oil royalty, Takiyuddin said his party only touched on the matter in general and did not go into specifics like Umno.

"If we just say that the Kelantan government is demanding for royalty, that is general and not sub judice," he said.

He added that PAS will also set up a special committee to look at the facts behind Kelantan's royalty claim from the federal government.

The Pengkalan Kubor by-election will take place on Sept 25 and will see BN's Mat Razi Mat Ail take on PAS' Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim.

The duo are joined by a third candidate, Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukary who is contesting as an independent.

Campaigning began yesterday after the trio's nomination.

The by-election was triggered when the incumbent state assemblyperson Noor Zaidi Omar, 57 passed away from cancer.

In the last general election, Noor Zaidi defeated PKR's Saharun Ibrahim with a 1,736-vote majority. Izat was also an independent candidate during that contest.

However, PKR has this time surrendered the seat to PAS, which has a stronger election machinery there, in the hope of wresting the seat from BN.