PAS is adamant that it won’t help Umno in the Sg Kandis by-election, party deputy president Tuan Ibrahin Tuan Man said today, rebuffing a quip from Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the two rival parties were “brothers”.

“Our decision is one we have made based on reports on the voters’ demographic in Sg Kandis. Our decision is not influenced by anyone,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, described PAS and Umno as brothers after the former said it would not contest the by-election.

PAS fielded a candidate in the May 9 general election but is opting out this time.

Umno’s Lokman Noor Adam will represent Barisan Nasional against PKR’s Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent K. Murthy.

Polling for the Selangor state seat will be held on August 4.

The seat became vacant on July 2 after the death of assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei from PKR.

A 70% Malay seat, Sg Kandis voters gave PKR a 12,500-vote margin over three other candidates from BN, PAS and Parti Rakyat Malaysia in GE14. – July 23, 2018.