ISLAMIST party PAS will meet this Saturday to decide on its candidate for the Seri Setia state seat by-election, said deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He also clarified that the cooperation between PAS and Umno was only in the context of this by-election.

This comes after Umno decided not to contest in the Seri Setia by-election, following PAS’ decision to sit out the Sungai Kandis by election last Saturday.

“Our party will have a meeting this Saturday to consider the suggestion (by Umno).

“Based on principles, we will most probably contest. PAS will field in a candidate,” he told reporters when met at Parliament’s lobby.

The MP for Kubang Kerian also said the party would accept help from anyone to face the by-election.

He was responding to a statement by Umno vice-president and Selangor liaison chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob that Selangor Umno will mobilise its machinery from all 22 divisions in the state to help PAS in the Seri Setia by-election.

“We will see how willing Umno is to help us this time. By-election is not a major event but it can send signals to the government.

“PAS’ strength will be fully mobilised, our machinery is ready,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

While both PAS and Umno have repeatedly denied that they are working together, recent events suggest otherwise.

The Islamist party, claiming opposition solidarity, elected not to contest in the Sungai Kandis by-election, opting to give way to BN.

On the low voter turnout in the by-election, Tuan Ibrahim ruled out any possibility that party members had boycotted the event.

“From the feedback we received, PAS members had come out to vote but it was the out-of-state voters who didn’t come back.  

“There is no issue of our members boycotting (the by-election),” he said.

On Saturday, Pakatan Harapan retained the Sungai Kandis state seat in Selangor with a smaller majority due to the low voter turnout of 49.4%.

PKR’s Zawawi Ahmad Mughni obtained 15,427 votes while BN/Umno’s Lokman Noor Adam took 9,585 votes to give the former a 5,842-vote majority. Independent K. Murthy had 97 votes.

The Seri Setia by-election is called following the death of its assemblyman Shaharuddin Badaruddin last week. He died from colon cancer.

In the 14th general election, Shaharuddin, who is also PKR vice-president, secured the Seri Setia state seat by 29,250 votes, defeating Yusoff M Haniff (BN).

Yusoff obtained 9,878 votes, trailed by PAS candidate Mohd Ghazali Daud (4,563 ) and independent S. Vigneswaran (217).

The Election Commission has yet to set a date for the by-election but it is likely that it would be held at the same day as the Balakong by-election on September 8.

The Balakong state seat fell vacant after a car accident claimed the life of DAP assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee on July 20. – August 6, 2018.