Pakatan Rakyat will field a PAS candidate in the upcoming Merlimau by-election, contrary to speculation that the party may allow BN a walkover victory.

Refuting a media report, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that the leadership council has decided that PKR and DAP will support PAS and its machinery in the by-election on March 6.

azlan It was earlier reported that some members of the PAS political bureau were partial to not contesting, arguing that it would be too costly, especially in the lead-up to the general election.

“We have discussed and agreed to support a PAS candidate as the Merlimau representative to represent Pakatan,” he said.

According to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, also present at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, the party leadership will meet on Feb 13 to decide on the candidate.

Asked if PAS will field a woman candidate, following its candidate Normala Sudirman in the Tenang by-election last month, Abdul Hadi enigmatically said: “Wait and see”.

He added that the party will begin mobilising its machinery, and will listen to local input before making its decision.

“It is normally a local candidate,” he said.

The PAS veteran will also lead a delegation to meet with the inspector-general of police Ismail Omar to seek for “professional and fair treatment” from the force during the campaign period.

The Merlimau seat fell vacant upon the death of BN representative Muhammad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, on Jan 20.

In the 2008 general election, Mohamad Hidhir bagged the Merlimau state seat, beating PAS candidate Jasme Tompang with a majority of 2,154 votes.

Prior to that in 2004, Mohamad Hidhir won the seat by a majority of 5,087 votes.

Nominations will take place on Feb 26.

‘We were testing waters with Pajudin’

Meanwhile, Anwar denied claims that PKR leadership had made decisions about Sabah PKR without consulting local leaders, particularly on the issue of recently defected state chief Pajudin Nordin.

“There was no consensus among the veteran leaders (as to who should lead PKR Sabah) so we tested (with Pajudin) and he was rejected (by) three-quarters of branch leaders.  

“The decision (to remove Pajudin) was not ours, but upon the request of branch leaders,” he said.

He added that he is uncertain of how long party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will helm the leadership in Sabah, but affirmed that it was “only temporary”.

Earlier, Anwar said that Pajudin had defected to Umno presumably upon learning that he will be replaced.

The Pakatan leaders also announced that there will be a conference of Pakatan menteris besar and chief ministers on Feb 21.

The coalition will also host an economic forum on Mar 25 and 26. 

VIDEO | 4.59 mins

PKR: Sabah is ready for the taking