It will be a 'nice gesture' if PAS decides not to contest in the Rompin parliamentary by-election , said Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob.

Adnan said Umno had taken a similar decision by not contesting during the Chempaka state seat by-election, a choice made out of respect to PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

"If PAS does not contest for the same reason...out of respect for JJ (Jamaluddin Jarjis) as a senior leader, it will be a nice gesture (by them).

"We (will) save money, time and energy for both parties. We wait for the next general election. That time (general election) we fight for the team.

"Now, it is only for one parliamentary seat," Adnan told a press conference after launching the Swiss-Garden Resort Residences in Sungai Karang today.

He also said that the Pahang Umno liaison committee welcomed the decision by Rompin Umno Division to reject any outside candidate, but added it was up to the party leadership to decide.

He gave an assurance that the party leadership would choose the best candidate, and the reason behind the selection must be well explained to the voters.

Yesterday, Rompin Umno Division acting chief Hasan Ariffin said the division was only prepared to accept a candidate picked from among the committee members of the division.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of incumbent Jamaluddin ( left ) in a helicopter mishap in Semenyih, Selangor on April 4.

   

The late Jamaluddin was a six-term Member of Parliament from 1990. In the 2013 general election, he beat PAS Muslimat chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh by a 15,114-vote majority.

- Bernama

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