KOTA BARU, 10 Feb 2009: PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said today he cannot agree to the suggestion by the DAP that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin be fielded in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election.
He said that so long as the Pakatan Rakyat regarded Mohammad Nizar as the Perak menteri besar, he should not be contesting in the by-election.
“If you ask me, I cannot accept a menteri besar contesting in a by-election. To me, it is not right for the ‘Perak MB’ to contest as he is already an elected representative.
“This is just like what the former PAS president (the late) Datuk Asri Muda did when he contested for both the state and parliamentary seats when he was the Kelantan menteri besar,” he told reporters in his office here today.
Nik Aziz also commended former Kedah state executive council member V Arumugam for vacating his Bukit Selambau state seat, saying the former Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyperson was a man with principle.
He also agreed for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state by-elections were to be held simultaneously.
“Elections are the hallmark of a democratic system; I don’t have any objection if both by-elections are held simultaneously. I will be campaigning… if health permits,” he said.
The Bukit Gantang seat fell vacant following the death of PAS member of parliament Roslan Shaharum, 50, yesterday. Bukit Selambau was vacated by Arumugam, also effective yesterday.
Nik Aziz praised the people of Kelantan for their maturity which enabled PAS to defend its position in the state government “despite various obstacles from its political enemies.”
He was disappointed, however, with the attitude of several PKR leaders in Perak, whom he said “have succumbed to the pressure” when they should have kept on fighting.
But in Kelantan, he said, PAS remained strong despite all the badgering. — Bernama
