SHAH ALAM, 30 Nov 2008: Pakatan Rakyat has decided that it will be a PAS candidate who contests in the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election.
“PAS contested the seat in the March general election so it is only fair that we let them contest again this time,” opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today during his winding-up speech at Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s national congress.
Anwar, who is also PKR advisor, said the decision was made in the spirit of unity among the three Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, PAS and DAP.
He added that PKR would lend its support to PAS during the by-election, while PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said the party would activate its election machinery and start to camp out in Kuala Terengganu.
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Deputy Education Minister and Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament Datuk Razali Ismail on 28 Nov 2008.
The by-election will be significant as it would be seen as a referendum for prime-minister-in-waiting Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as well as for Pakatan Rakyat.
In the 8 March 2008 general election, Razali won with a 628-vote majority against PAS candidate Mohamad Sabu.
According to election laws, a by-election has to be held within 60 days of the seat becoming vacant. No date has been set yet by the Election Commission. 
