PKR today denied that the party had deliberately sidelined former Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin from the Penanti by-election.

Fairus, who is also former state assemblyperson for the seat, has not featured in any of the Pakatan Rakyat by-election rallies since campaigning kicked off last Sunday.

But according to PKR election director Saifuddin Nasution, Fairuz had been in Australia over the past few weeks.

mansor othman penanti by election pc 280509 03 "He did not join us because he has gone overseas, not because we have deliberately excluded or exempted him from the campaign," Saifuddin told a press conference in Yayasan Aman, Penanti today.

Saifuddin suggested that Fairus presence in Penanti would be a boost to the party’s by-election campaign.

"Indeed it will be a bonus for us if Fairus could join the campaign," said Saifuddin, the Machang member of parliament.

However, when asked why Fairus chose to be in Australia during the crucial campaign period, Saifuddin said the question should be best left for the former Penanti representative to answer.

He nevertheless insisted that the PKR leadership had been in constant touch with Fairus ever since he left the country for further studies at an Australian university.

With Umno out, we don’t really need him

Penanti state seat fell vacant when Fairus resigned on April 16.

Fairus has earlier resigned as DCM and relinquished his state portfolios effective April 8 after he was embroiled in a graft investigation carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

mohammad fairus penang deputy cm deny resign 160708 01 Local Penanti boy Fairus was alleged to have accepted bribes to allow illegal quarry operations on Penang mainland.

MACC has since cleared Fairus from all graft allegations.

In the by-election, PKR state deputy chief Mansor Othman takes on three independent candidates in former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah, former local Gerakan leader Nai Khan Ari and Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

Fairus last public appearance in Penanti was at Yayasan Aman on April 28 - 12 days after his resignation, when he attended the event where PKR announced Mansor's candidature.

PKR sources said Fairus was excluded in the campaign partly because his service was not needed due to Umno’s pullout from the electoral contest.

"If Umno has joined the contest, we would have needed Fairus to explain and clarify questions raised by our rivals. But since Umno has opted out, we don't really need him."

PKR target - at least 72% voter turnout

With or without the former assemblyperson, Saifuddin is optimistic that Mansor could better the 7,346 votes garnered by Fairus in his first electoral outing at the 2008 general election.

Fairus took the seat with a majority of 2,219 against Umno's Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid, who polled 5,127.

But Saifuddin said the target can only be achieved if all PKR hardcore voters come out to back Mansor on polling day this Sunday.

Due to the absence of Umno and Barisan Nasional, the party is worried of a lower turnout, which Saifuddin said would adversely affect PKR’s chances for a big win.

"We are working out strategies to increase the turnout," he said, adding that PKR was hoping for at least 72 percent voter turnout.

Penanti comes under PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

In the Permatang Pauh by-election last August, Penanti voters gave Anwar a thumping majority of 3,276.

mansor othman penanti by election pc 280509 01 Earlier, Mansor, the DCM-designate, unveiled a 11-point manifesto for the by-election.

Among Mansor's electoral pledges are to set up a service centre within 48 hours after being elected, install a 24-hour public hotline and email system for electorates to communicate with him, carry out field work to hear public grouses and give priority to the public welfare and free tuition programmes.

Other pledges include forging a close working relationship with non-government organisations, education institutions and civil societies, carry out local leaders empowerment programme, set up a community clinic and build a public bazaar to stimulate small business and tourism.

He also pledges to upgrade the infrastructure in Penanti, in addition to building a community hall.