KUANTAN: PAS is firm in its decision to put a candidate for the Rompin parliamentary by-election, says the party’s state commissioner, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
He said various meetings on the by-election were held and the party machinery formed, indicating they were ready to fight tooth and nail during the by-election.
“We have, however stressed that by contesting, it does not mean we disrespect the late (incumbent MP) Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis. We look upon him as a senior and respected politician.
“Nevertheless, we must also respect the democracy system, by offering an option to the 53,294 voters in Rompin,” he said when contacted by Bernama here yesterday.
Tuan Ibrahim was asked to comment on Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob’s statement that PAS would make a ‘nice gesture’ if the party decided to stay away from the by-election.
In his statement, Adnan had also noted that Umno stayed away from the Chempaka state seat by-election in March 22, as a mark of respect for incumbent state assembylman and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat who died on Feb 12.
The by-election was necessitated by Jamaluddin’s death in a helicopter crash in Semenyih, Selangor on April 4.
Jamaluddin was a six-term MP from 1990. In the 2013 General Election, he beat PAS’ Nuridah Mohd Salleh by a 15,114 vote majority.
The Election Commission has set May 5 as polling day. Nomination is on April 22. — Bernama