Perak PAS today admitted that it was going to be difficult to win the Kuala Kangsar by-election if they are faced a multi-cornered fight.

State commissioner Razman Zakaria said the task would be difficult if Party Amanah, which comprise former PAS members, were to contest in the by-election.

"If there is a three-cornered battle it will be more difficult because Amanah will take the voters from the previous opposition block," he said in a press conference on the Kuala Kangsar by-election, in Ipoh, today.

Razman urged Amanah to take a hard look in the mirror first before contesting for the seat, which has been a PAS tradition since 1959.

"Amanah ... the so-called professionals, before contesting for the seat should first examine the background ... study the core voters.

"Amanah is a newly-formed party and their committee members in the area are insufficient compared to us (PAS) of which 20 to 30 percent of the branch committee members are strong supporters," he said.

Razman said PAS would in no way offer a free passage to Amanah to contest in the Kuala Kangsar by-election despite insistence from certain quarters to do so.

He added that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was expected to announce the party's candidate for the Kuala Kangsar by-election on May 28.

The Kuala Kangsar by-election is being held following the death of Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

Also killed was Sungai Besar MP Noriah Kasnon, who was also Plantation Industries and Commodities deputy minister.The Election Commission has set June 18 as polling day and June 5 as nomination day.

- Bernama