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Kelantan PAS will 'take over' PKR seats if needed
Published:  Mar 29, 2017 12:28 PM
Updated: 8:13 AM

Kelantan PAS will contest in seats that were allocated to PKR in previous elections if the party's central leadership decided to cut ties with their partner.

Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, the Kelantan PAS secretary, said this when clarifying an Utusan Online report which implied that Kelantan PAS was "hinting" that they won't share seats with PKR during the next general election.

He told Malaysiakini that he was quoted out of context and that Kelantan PAS cannot foresee what decision the party's central leadership will be making.

He said the Utusan Online reporter had asked him about the number of PAS divisions which have resolved to cut ties with PKR during their respective annual general meetings.

"Then the reporter asked me, if the central leadership has decided to cut ties with PKR, would Kelantan PAS take their seats. I said 'of course, we have to make decisions in line with the central leadership's wishes'," he said.

Earlier today, Utusan Online had reported quoted Che Abdullah claiming that PKR should be blamed for the strained ties between the two parties. 

The report also claimed that PKR had been sharing the stage Pakatan Harapan parties, especially DAP, to run down the PAS-led Kelantan government.

"At the state level, we have mentioned to our friend PKR to be mindful of not upsetting PAS voters, particulary those in the kampung," he was quoted as saying by Utusan Online.

"We have also reminded PKR to be more sensitive in preserving its ties with PAS whenever they are seen together with Harapan at ceramah criticising the Kelantan government," he added.

Of the 14 parliament seats in Kelantan, PKR contested in three - Tanah Merah, Ketereh dan Machang. Whereas for state seats, PKR fielded candidates in Pengkalan Kubor, Kuala Balah, Guchil and Nenggiri.

However, PKR only managed to win in Guchil.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that Kelantan PKR has resolved to stand in all the seats it contested in the last election amid calls from PAS grassroots for the seats to be returned.

In Selangor, PAS research centre director Zuhdi Marzuki wanted all seats in the state, which he claimed were loaned to PKR, to be returned.

This included Selangor menteri besar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's parliamentary seat of Gombak.

There have also been calls from PAS grassroots for the party to end its political cooperation with PKR, and this is slated to be discussed at next month's muktamar.

Meanwhile, Che Abdullah said the people of Kelantan would not allow Harapan to establish itself in the state in the next election.

He said the people would also not forget how former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP have consistently opposed the implementation of Islamic laws in Kelantan.


Editor's note: An earlier version of this report, based on an Utusan Online article, had quoted Che Abdullah Mat Nawi suggesting that Kelantan PAS will take over PKR's seats in the state. This report has been updated after contacting Che Abdullah for clarification.

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