ALOR STAR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has shot down suggestions to nominate him in the race for Pas vice-president post during the 69th party delegates assembly next month.
Sanusi, who rejected nominations for the position twice previously, stressed that he will only be contesting for a slot in the Pas central committee.
The Kedah Menteri Besar explained that despite suggestions from political analysts that he is qualified for the role, Sanusi acknowledged that he lacked certain qualifications in comparison to other Pas leaers.
"To lead Pas, one must possess certain qualities. That's why in Kedah, I can be the MB, but someone else can hold the post of state Pas commissioner because we have different qualities and characteristics.
"I don't have those characteristics (as state Commisioner) and Pas is not like any other parties. That is why I feel that being a Pas central committee member is where I belong.
"I believe in the party's principles is based on merit, which includes qualifications, capabilities, and skills, rather than politics or our ability to lobby, and so on," he said in a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Sanusi said he is confidence that no Pas member would challenge the positions of party president and deputy president, currently held by Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man respectively.
However, he stressed that this is not due to any specific prohibition within the party but rather because there are no two or more candidates contesting both positions.
"In Pas, there has never been any hindrance to anyone wanting to run for president, but no one is contesting. You can't force people to contest, and I don't expect there to be a contest this year for the president and deputy president positions," he added.
Meanwhile, in separate matter, he said Pas accepted the Terengganu Election Court's decision to nullify the victory of PN Kemaman Member of Parliament, Che Alias Hamid in the 15th General Election (GE15).
He said the party has not yet made any decision on whether to appeal the court's decision or proceed with a by-election, similar to what was done in Kuala Terengganu.
"Our legal team will discuss with the party whether to appeal or proceed with a by-election. If we want to expedite it, a by-election similar to Kuala Terengganu will be conducted, and Kemaman will also face the same scenario.
"The victory was even more significant (in Kuala Terengganu), it would only be a waste time and money. We will defeat them (Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional) once again, and we will drown them twice, and they won't dare to challenge us again," he added.
Yesterday, it was reported that Terengganu Election Court annulled the victory of Pas's Che Alias in GE15.
Judge Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis said the petitioner, voter Wan Mohamad Hisham Wan Abdul Jalil succeeded in proving that corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters in GE15.