PAS will announce its candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 1 at the Stadium Negeri, Kuala Terengganu here. Party president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party had already identified its candidate who was a professional and people-oriented.
“We already have a candidate…(it’s) in my pocket, Insya-Allah…wait for Jan 1 (for the announcement),” he said after chairing a special meeting of the PAS Central Committee at the Pusat Tarbiyah PAS Kuala Terengganu, here today. Also present were PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub.
Abdul Hadi said the PAS candidate was more qualified than the candidate fielded by Barisan Nasional (BN). He said the PAS candidate had leadership qualities and was accepted by the voters in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the BN candidate for the by-election.
Asked why PAS was taking a long time to announce its candidate compared to the BN, Abdul Hadi said PAS did not want to follow the BN way and was not hasty in making its decision.
“It’s not long, even the nomination day is a long way off (Jan 6). We have no problem. Umno has problems and you (journalists) too are aware of it. That’s why they (BN) announced much earlier.
“Usually it’s we (PAS) who will be waiting, not they (BN)…(for example) the last general election, they did not tell us the date, they decided on the date and we were kept waiting,” he said.
Asked whether the PAS candidate would be a local or its vice-president, Mohamad Sabu, as proposed by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Abdul Hadi responded: “(whether it is) Mat (Mohamad) Sabu, Nasharuddin or Salahuddin…(wait for) Jan 1.”
Abdul Hadi said with the selection of the candidate, PAS was confident of wresting the parliamentary seat, particularly because the constituency was the party’s stronghold.
He said the delay in announcing the candidate had not caused any anxiety among the PAS supporters as they were now in high spirits to carry out their responsibilities even though the candidate had yet to be announced.
On the selection of Wan Ahmad Farid as the BN candidate, Abdul Hadi said it was up to the BN itself to evaluate their own candidate.
“We need not comment (on Wan Farid’s candidacy), that is BN’s right. What is certain is that we will fight (the BN candidate),” he said.
He was also satisfied with the preparation made by the PAS election machinery while the Pakatan Rakyat component parties had also given their commitment to help PAS in the by-election.
In the March general election, the BN candidate, the late Datuk Razali Ismail defeated Mohamad Sabu and independent candidate Maimun Yusuf with a majority of 628 votes.
Source: BERNAMA
Follow me on Twitter 
Bebelan….