KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has yet to decide its candidate for the by-election at the Kemaman parliamentary constituency in Terengganu, fixed for polling on Dec 2.
The statement by the party's secretary-general, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, came on the heels of reports suggesting that Pas was considering former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its candidate during the by-election.
Takiyuddin, also the Kota Baru member of Parliament, said the Islamist party will likely announce its candidate for the Kemaman by-election before the nomination day on Nov 18.
"All Malaysian citizens have the right to be candidates, irrespective if they are from the state or outside the state.
"And, the candidate doesn't need to come from the same area. We have yet to decide (the candidate)," Takiyuddin told reporters after visiting the media centre for the Pas' 69th Muktamar (general assembly) here today.
It was previously reported that the Election Commission (EC) had fixed Dec 2 as polling day for the Kemaman.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the commission also set Nov 18 as nomination day and Nov 28 for early voting.
The by-election was necessitated after the Terengganu Election Court, on Sept 26, nullified the victory of Che Alias Hamid from Pas during the 15th General Election (GE15).
In GE15, held in November last year, Che Alias won the seat in a four-cornered contest that also involved Datuk Seri Ahmad Said of Barisan Nasional, Hasuni Sudin of Pakatan Harapan, and Rosli Ab Ghani of Pejuang.
On a separate matter, Takiyuddin said Pas is expected to throw its support for the contesting parties and candidates "friendly" to the Islamist party for the Jepak state seat by-election in Bintulu, Sarawak.
"Since the opposition is not contesting, we will see the contesting candidates who are friendly to us.
"Gabungan Parti Sarawak is contesting in the by-election. They could likely win the by-election uncontested," he said.
In a statement yesterday, PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin confirmed that the opposition is sitting out of the Jepak by-election.
The by-election has been fixed for the nomination of candidates and polling this Saturday (Oct 21) and Nov 4, respectively.
The seat fell vacant after its assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, died from kidney complications on Sept 15 after being admitted to the Normah Medical Centre in Kuching.