KUALA NERUS: The Port Dickson by-election is a good training ground for PAS and Umno to test their cooperation.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that the Port Dickson by-election was expected to strengthen the momentum of the supporters from both parties, following the recent Sungai Kandis and Seri Setia by-elections.
“Firstly, in a democratic nation, anyone can contest or vacate his seat. We cannot prevent anyone from contesting.
“We accept this as an opportunity to have a joint training among the Opposition.
“Our experience in Sungai Kandis and Seri Setia saw an increase in votes for us. In Sungai Kandis, it was first gear and for Seri Setia, early indications showed we were in third gear.
“So we expect greater support in Port Dickson,” he said after officiating the first Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP) convention at the Gong Badak indoor stadium.
Present were Dewan Ulama PAS chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed and DHPP chief N. Balasubramaniam.
Abdul Hadi also did not discount the possibility of PAS sending its own machinery to campaign for an Umno candidate in the Port Dickson by-election.
“We have branches and members in and around Port Dickson. But their utilisation depends on the requirements,” he said.
PKR has chosen Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest the parliamentary seat of Port Dickson after incumbent Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah notified the Dewan Rakyat speaker that he was vacating his seat.
The move is to prepare Anwar to become the country’s eighth prime minister.