PAS deputy chief Mohamad Sabu has expressed his preference to contest for a parliamentary seat in Kedah, despite possibly picked as a candidate in both Penang and in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Mohamad, who is better known as Mat Sabu, said he would leave the decision to the party's central committee to decide where he should contest.

pengukir nama johor mat sabu pas pc 060911 Mat Sabu said he had been nominated by several divisions to contest in Pendang (Kedah), Tasek Gelugor (Penang) and Titiwangsa (Kuala Lumpur).

"However, I prefer Kedah as I had contested and won there in the past," he said. "But it is up to the party leadership. I will go wherever I am sent."

Penang-born Mat Sabu was Kuala Kedah MP from 1999 to 2004.

On when the central committee would make a decision on the party's candidates, Mat Sabu laughed, saying "before the elections".

"It could be in November or January," he quipped, referring to the delay in calling for the dissolution of Parliament by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The last date for the 13th general election to be called is June 28 next year, but it could be held in the coming months.

Mat Sabu was responding to questions by journalists yesterday about the party's divisions which nominated him as a candidate.

Earlier, there had been reports that certain quarters were trying to block Mat Sabu from contesting in Kedah.

CM Lim's close buddy

Speculation was also rife that Mat Sabu may be offered a seat in Penang as he is a close buddy of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Mat Sabu is often seen in Penang appearing at ceramah sessions and seems to be well-accepted by all communities due to his friendly disposition and entertaining remarks in his fiery speeches.

NONE Asked wehther he would rather contest in Penang, Mat Sabu said, "Penang is a strong Pakatan state. There are also strong leaders like Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa who often appears here."

It is learnt that Mat Sabu would most probably be sent to Kedah to strengthen the PAS leadership which appears besieged by internal politicking between local party leaders and state PAS commissioner and Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak.

It is often heard among Pakatan supporters that they hope Azizan would serve his "last term" as MB.

Mat Sabu is in Penang to attend a civil suit against Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia for publishing several articles on his remarks on the 1950 Bukit Kepong police station attack by communist insurgents, leaving 26 people dead.

According to Mat Sabu, Utusan twisted his remarks on the matter.