‘IT SEEMS LIKE UMNO WANTS TO HELP US WIN SRI SETIA’
Tuan Man hopes Umno members will vote for Pas
“LOOKING at their faces (Umno), it seems like they want to help us.” This was the response by Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man when asked whether Umno would assist the Islamic party in the Seri Setia byelection.
Tuan Ibrahim said he hoped Umno members would vote for Pas following Umno’s decision not to field a candidate in the byelection, which will be held on Sept 8.
He added that Pas welcomed assistance from Umno to help wrest the state seat from PKR.
“If they (Umno) want to help our (election) machinery to gain access to their members... we welcome such a move,” he said at Zulkifli Muhammad University College here yesterday.
Present was Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
Asked if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would participate in Pas’ election, Tuan Ibrahim said: “We will not respond to ‘if’ questions.
“In the party, we have matters that we can and cannot do. Furthermore, Pas’ machinery needs to understand the voters and sensitivity of the locals.”
On Aug 3, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the party would not take part in the Seri Setia byelection as part of a mutual understanding between the parties.
On a related matter, Tuan Ibrahim said the party had submitted the names of three potential candidates for the Seri Setia by-election to Pas’ Syura Council.
“We will announce the candidate on Aug 15.”
He said the candidates comprised new and old faces, including a Pas leader who contested in the 14th General Election.
The Seri Setia seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Professor Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin, who was battling colon and liver cancer.