PAS unfazed by independent 'spoilers'

With memories of the March 8 general election still fresh, Islamic opposition party PAS does not intend to take potential independent candidates at the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election for granted.

In the March 8 election, PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu was narrowly defeated by the late Razali Ismail from Umno in battle for Kuala Terengganu.

Razali had edged Mohamad by 628 votes while independent candidate Maimun Yusuf, who proofed to be the spoiler in the contest, polled 685 votes.

This time around PAS is determined that independent candidates would not hamper its chances of winning Kuala Terengganu.

It is reported there could be at least three independent candidates in the by-election, including 85-year-old grandmother Maimun, who has expressed interest in vying for the seat for the second time.

Also expected to throw their hats into the ring are businessmen Isma Airfath Hassanuddin from Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, and local Kuala Terengganu businessman Mohd Azlan Ismail.

Mohd Azlan, however, has not confirmed that he would be contesting, while Maimun indicated she was prepared to join the fray if she could get sponsors.

PAS splinter party, Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim), has named former PKR leader Haron Abdul Rahman Mohamad as its candidate.

The party is apparently not deterred by its candidate’s failure to garner enough votes to reclaim his deposit in the Permatang Pauh by-election four months ago.

Fight is really between BN and PAS

Terengganu PAS commissioner Mustafa Ali, when contacted, is not perturbed by the slew of independent candidates in the by-election.

"The main contest is still between BN and PAS. PAS is confident despite the naming of (Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief and Deputy Home Minister) Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the BN candidate," the Terengganu PAS commissioner told Malaysiakini.

"The number of independent candidates and the one from Akim will not affect our chances. We are fairly optimistic (of our chances)."

Mustafa, affectionately known as ‘Cikgu Pa’, is said to be one of the four likely PAS candidates to contest in this by-election.

The others are his deputy Wan Mutalib Embong, popular Batu Burok assemblyperson Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi - whose state seats is one of the four under Kuala Terengganu - and businessman Dr Mohd Khazani Abdullah.

Syed Azman (right) is said to be the favourite, having once won the Kuala Terengganu seat in 1999. He lost the seat to Razali in 2004.

Hadi to make final decision

When asked about who would be picked to lead the charge in the crucial by-election, Mustafa said a final decision would be made by party president Abdul Hadi Awang, and this would be announced on Jan 1.

"I cannot comment on the candidate. Names had been submitted to the party leaders. The final decision would be made by Hadi (left in photo).

“Whoever it is, PAS will back him to win this by-election so this (Kuala Terengganu) would be the party’s 24th seat," he said.

PAS has 23 MPs, the lowest among the Pakatan Rakyat parties.

Hadi has earlier strongly hinted that the party candidate would be “a professional who is close to the people”.

Party information chief Mahfuz Omar is also confident of PAS’ chances in Kuala Terengganu.

"People are fed up with the ruling BN government following all the reported abuses and if given the chance, they would vote for PAS. Despite the number of independents expressing interests to contest, the fight will truly boil down to two - BN and PAS.

“We are confident of our chances despite that BN had revert to paying the oil royalty recently as PAS felt the people have had enough of BN.”