KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has denied claims suggesting that the Islamist party is boycotting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate contesting in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat by-election.
Selangor Pas Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar said the nomination day for the by-election coincided with the party's central leadership monthly meeting that was being held in Perlis.
Due to the clash scheduled, Sukri, who is also the Selangor PN Youth chief, said most of the party's top leaders were unable to attend and lend their support to Khairul Azhari Saut of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) during the nomination for the by-election on Saturday.
"The date of the (monthly) meeting was finalised way earlier before the Election Commission (EC) made its announcement on the important dates for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
"The meeting is a platform for the party to raise and deliberate several important issues.
"Having said that, the party's top leadership decided to spare Selangor Pas leaders from attending the meeting and for them to be present here (in Kuala Kubu Baharu) at all times," Sukri told reporters at the PN operation centre for the by-election in Batang Kali, Selangor today.
He said the party is in the process of updating its movement for the by-election and that more Pas leaders are expected to make an appearance during the campaigning period.
"There is no boycott as I am always here representing the party. In addition, Selangor Pas commissioner Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri has actively been on the ground helping PN for the by-election.
"And Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor of Pas was present during the announcement of the PN candidate contesting in the by-election on Thursday night here. Therefore, there are no problems here at all," he said.
Sukri, in turn, accused Pakatan Harapan (PH) of playing up the issue to hide their weaknesses during the campaigning period of the by-election.
"Such a 'conflict' exists within PH. This is after a political party alligned with the unity government decided not to help with campaigning for the PH candidate contesting in this by-election," he said.
Although Sukri did not identify the party, it was understood that he was referring to the decision made by MCA to sit out of the campaigning for the by-election.