SEMENYIH: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to descend on the Semenyih state constituency to give Pakatan Harapan’s by-election campaign a boost.
During his visit on Feb 28, the PH and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman is also expected to clear the air over his statement recently that Pas would not be supporting Umno during the campaigning period for the by-election.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said only Dr Mahathir had the details of the outcome of the meeting between him and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang at Yayasan Al-Bukhary, Kuala Lumpur, last week.
“I have no details on what had transpired during the meeting. Only Tun (Dr Mahathir) knows about it. Nevertheless, I believe that the statement by Tun is not something that was blatantly made up.
“When the situation persists, Pas feels trapped and as usual, the party will deny it. Tun will come here on Feb 28 and I believe he will tell all on the issue involving Pas’ political cooperation (with Umno),” he said after attending a sembang santai programme with Beranang folk.
Dr Mahathir on Saturday claimed that Pas has decided against lending its support to Umno in the Semenyih by-election.
He said this was expressed by Hadi during their meeting recently.
Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, however, had dismissed the statement by Dr Mahathir and stressed that Pas will continue supporting Umno for the by-election.
Muhyiddin said Pas should also explain to the rakyat on what really happened for the people to judge whether they are lying or otherwise.
“The party had said that the cooperation during the Semenyih by-election will be different from ones during the Cameron Highland by-election. Which one (of the statements) should the people believe?”
The Semenyih by-election will see a four-cornered fight with PH fielding engineer Muhammad Aiman Zalaini to face retiree Zakaria Hanafi of Barisan Nasional, Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul of Parti Sosialis Malaysia and philanthropist Kuan Chee Heng, famously known as ‘Uncle Kentang’.