KUALA LUMPUR: PAS will not field a candidate in the Port Dickson by-election.
This was confirmed by the party's deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man when contacted by NSTP, today.
The decision also sees PAS giving way to Umno to field a candidate in a bid to strengthen the cooperation between both parties which began since the Sungai Kandis by-election in August.
"PAS will not contest and will give way to Umno," the Kubang Kerian MP said.
Meanwhile, in Kuala Terengganu, PAS' Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said the same thing, informing that the matter was discussed at the Ulama's Syura Council meeting yesterday.
"We discussed the by-election yesterday, and we decided to make way for Umno.
"We prefer a straight fight and we will give our support for Umno as how they supported us in the Seri Setia by-election recently," he said at a press conference after officiating the Islamist party's Dewan Ulama muktamar at the Permai Hotel in Kuala Terengganu today.
It was announced yesterday that PKR's Port Dickson parliamentarian Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah had resigned from the post, paving the way for a by-election for the party's incoming president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in.
The Election Commission (EC) confirmed receiving an official notice on the matter, saying they would convene a special meeting soon to discuss the details of the by-election.
Mahfodz's deputy Datuk Muhammad Zawawi Nik Salleh who is also PAS Syura Council's secretary said that although PAS has not officially formed a cooperation with Umno, their relationship in the recent by-election was a positive step.
"This cooperation has not been finalised but it has happened and we have a good understanding.
"Once we have finalised it, we can make Pakatan Harapan fail," he said.
He added that such a cooperation was not only with Umno but all Opposition parties, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.
"When we do this, other Opposition parties will follow suit," he added.
Mahfodz's deputy Datuk Muhammad Zawawi Nik Salleh who is also PAS Syura Council's secretary said that although PAS has not officially formed a cooperation with Umno, their relationship in the recent by-election was a positive step.
"This cooperation has not been finalised but it has happened and we have a good understanding.
"Once we have finalised it, we can make Pakatan Harapan fail," he said.
He added that such a cooperation was not only with Umno but all Opposition parties, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.
"When we do this, other Opposition parties will follow suit," he added.
