Is Terengganu MB Pas’ candidate for Kemaman by-election?

SHAH ALAM - It is not impossible that Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar will be nominated as Pas candidate in the Kemaman parliamentary by-election in the state on Dec 2.

Pas Terengganu Commissioner Datuk Husain Awang said although there was a possibility that Samsuri was potentially the candidate, Pas has not yet made a final decision.

In fact, Husain insisted that there was still no discussion about the proposed placement of the Pas vice-president in the list of Pas candidates to face the Kemaman by-election, other than the former incumbent, Che Alias Ahmad.

"That possibility (the Terengganu Menteri Besar becoming a Pas candidate) could indeed happen but so far I have not heard any information that the Terengganu Menteri Besar will be a Pas candidate in the next by-election except after being contacted by the media.

"Actually, we haven't made any final decision about who will be the Pas candidate in the Kemaman by-election," he said when contacted by Sinar Premium, yesterday.

He said this when commenting on the allegation that Samsuri was one of the Pas leaders who was said to be a potential candidates in the Kemaman by-election in addition to the former seat holder, Che Alias.

Apart from the Rhu Rendang assemblyman, the name of two-time former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also been linked as a potential candidate to represent Pas.

However, the rumour was denied by Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in a press conference in conjunction with the 69th Pas Muktamar here last week.

For the record, the Kemaman parliamentary by-election was held following the decision of the Terengganu Election Court which nullified the victory of Che Alias who had been declared the winner of the Kemaman parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

This was following allegations of corruption against him during the campaign period to win votes.

In GE15, Che Alias won with a majority of 27,179 votes, after he gained 65,714 votes to defeat former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said (former BN) who obtained 38,535 votes; Pakatan Harapan candidate Hasuni Sudin (8,340 votes) and Pejuang candidate Rosli Ab Ghani (506 votes).

Meanwhile, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Pas has not made a final decision on the best candidate to represent the party to face the Kemaman Parliamentary by-election.

The Kubang Kerian MP confirmed that the Central Pas Committee would hold a meeting in the near future to discuss the matter.

"So far the party has not received the list of candidates from the Terengganu State Pas Liaison Board. So we expect that in the next week, a party meeting will be held to discuss the names of the candidates and preparations for the Kemaman parliamentary by-election," Tuan Ibrahim said.