PAS has denied that it will secretly endorse an independent candidate for the Jan 28 Batu Talam by-election in Pahang.

The Islamic opposition party and its Barisan Alternatif (BA) ally Parti Keadilan Rakyat PKR are boycotting the contest in order to press for electoral reforms.

"There are allegations that PAS has bought a copy of the nomination form. Let me say this is all media play-up," said PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa today.

"We will continue with the boycott, there will be no candidate from the BA," he stressed when asked to comment on the speculations.

Nomination for the Batu Talam seat will be held tomorrow. The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan (Barisan Nasional-Umno) on Dec 27.

In the 2004 general election, Tengku Paris beat PAS candidate Mohamed Nilam Abdul Manap by 2,761 votes. There were 10,866 registered voters then.

This time around, there is a slight drop in the number of eligible voters - 10,525 - including 14 postal voters who are all policemen serving in the constituency.

Independent candidate

In a related development, there is talk that Umno is allegedly 'making arrangements' to field an independent candidate so that the by-election can proceed.

Previously, PAS vice-president Husam Musa claimed that Umno election workers were frustrated because of the boycott as "they will not be able to make money."

According to a news report today, seven nomination forms for the by-election have been sold as of yesterday. Among the buyers were a DAP member while five others had contested the seat before.

Nasharuddin also said a series of programmes have been planned for PAS to explain the boycott to the grassroots in Batu Talam, beginning with a ceramah tonight.

As for Election Commission chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's remark that the boycott is nothing more than a 'game of politics' by the opposition, the PAS leader replied:

"Politics or not, we are demanding for reforms. The statement once again shows he (Abdul Rahman) lacks professionalism."

Phantom PAS members

Meanwhile, Nasharuddin also said that he received information about a group of people - of whom he did not wish to identify - might be planning a "sabotage" during the nomination process tomorrow.

"We heard from sources that the group will be going to the nomination centre with PAS flags and logos. We have to state it clearly in advance that we are not responsible for any such action.

"The decision to boycott is final and anyone nominating themselves claiming they are from PAS is not representing the party," he stressed.

Nasharuddin said the party will take action against any party member who abused the party flags and logos. He added that PAS will be closely monitoring tomorrow's nomination process.