PD POLLS | The PAS central leadership will descend on Kuala Terengganu tonight for a meeting to decide if the party will take on Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim in Port Dickson following Umno's decision to stay out.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed last night that the meeting will be taking place,  but remained coy on how he was leaning.

Samsuri, who is also PAS election director, said there were grounds for and against participating in the by-election.

"However, it is not a decision by one person, but by the meeting, so it is best that I do not preempt (the decision)," he said in a video uploaded on his official Facebook page.

Samsuri said the outcome of the meeting may be announced after the meeting tonight, or in a press statement tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang – who had previously said that Anwar should not be allowed a "free win" in Port Dickson – said he would still take into account the views of various quarters.

"We will see the reports, particularly from the state PAS, before we come to a decision," he said in a video on his official Facebook page.

Mustaffa Daharun, the PAS commissioner for Negeri Sembilan – within which constituency is located – said he did not favour the party contesting in the by-election.

The Port Dickson by-election was triggered following the resignation of its incumbent MP Danyal Balagopal Abdullah to pave way for Anwar's return to Parliament.

PKR had faced criticisms over the cost incurred on taxpayers, but proponents argue that it is necessary move as Harapan wants Anwar to succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Election Commission had budgeted RM3.6 million for the parliamentary by-election.

Nomination will take place this Saturday, while polling will be on Oct 13.

BN had decided to sit out the by-election, but a couple of independent candidates have expressed interest.