A day into the Permatang Pasir by-election campaign, Pakatan Rakyat leaders have wasted no time in launching an attack on the credentials of Barisan Nasional candidate Rohaizat Othman.

This follows the Bar Council’s clarification that Rohaizat was struck off the rolls in March last year due to professional misconduct. The complaint involved misappropriation of some RM161,000 in a property transaction that was aborted.

mahfuz omar pas ceramah in penanti 270509 At a press conference in Permatang Pasir today, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar seized the initiative to call on Rohaizat to withdraw gracefully from the by-election.

“This is not a personal attack. Truth is Rohaizat has lost his moral credibility to contest the by-election. He should withdraw gracefully to avoid further exposure on this matter,” said Mahfuz, who is heading the PAS by-election campaign.

He said the Bar’s disclosure raises the question if Rohaizat can be entrusted to manage large sums of money on behalf of the state seat in Penang, should he win the by-election.

Rohaizat, 38, had said the matter was a non-issue in the by-election, while Umno leaders had claimed that his practising certificate had been revoked due to problems caused by his former partner in the legal firm.

Mahfuz slammed Umno for not selecting a candidate with exemplary virtues, thereby “insulting .

constituents by fielding a person without moral standing and with a tainted background”.

NONE DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang also called for Rohaizat’s withdrawal from the straight fight with PAS’s Mohd Salleh Man.

He alleged that Rohaizat (right in photo) had misled his party on the real reasons behind his disbarment by the Bar.

“Can we trust a candidate who had misled his own party and leaders?” Lim asked in his blog.

In a press conference held later, Rohaizat refused to comment on the matter.

"Let the Bar and opposition debate on the issue. I have no comment," he said.

The by-election is being called following the demise of Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31. Polling will be held on Aug 25.