The great Nasharuddin poser

Speculation is rife that PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, may surface either today or tomorrow to throw his muscle behind the campaign for the Manek Urai by-election scheduled for the coming Tuesday.

The speculation was triggered by reports in the local daily Sinar Harapan and the mStar news portal which had quoted Nasharuddin and other sources as saying that he will pitch in on Saturday.

mStar even quoted sources yesterday as saying that Nasharuddin had been warded at the Serdang hospital, suffering from an intestinal ailment.

Since the by-election was announced Nasharuddin had been conspicuous by his absence in public life, leading to questions being raised on his whereabouts.

Even on the nomination day of Monday the Bachok MP failed to put in an appearance.

As campaign entered its third day on Wednesday and the fourth yesterday, there was no sign of the senior PAS figure.

Nasha ruddin seen as PAS' albatross

PAS election director, Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah comfirmed when contacted by Malaysiakini that Nasharuddin was scheduled to join the campaign trail today or tomorrow together with PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat at the Laloh wet market.

"Nasharuddin ( left) will come insya'allah before the campaign period ends. I hope that this will dispel all rumours," he said.

A proponent of the unity talks with Umno, Nasharuddin is seen as a liability for PAS following a fall out with Nik Aziz.

This was somewhat resolved last week but the strain between the two still remains.

Following his disappearance there was high speculation that PAS Kelantan had banned him from attending ceramah.

Nasharuddin, meanwhile, was quoted by the blog Agenda Daily as saying he would join the campaign on Saturday.

"There is no issue for Kelantan PAS to ban me from coming. I'm unwell and Insya'allah (God willing) I will come on Saturday," he was quoted to have said after minor intestinal surgery at the Serdang Hospital.

PAS ceramah better attended than Umno's

If at all Nasharuddin is able to make it on Saturday, it may be bad news for Umno as this will project a united PAS in the last phase of the crucial Manek Urai by-election.

However, whether his presence will boost PAS' chances of winning or open the opportunity for Umno to capitalise on Nashruddin's fallout with Nik Aziz (left) to win ground in this PAS stronghold remains to be seen.

The Wednesday night ceramah with Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng recorded a higher turnout than the one held by Umno and Muhyiddin at the same time in Manek Urai.

However, the question is moot that the turnouts will translate into votes for PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, for there's still the chance that younger voters may just go for the younger Umno and BN candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat.

Mustapa, at a press conference organised yesterday, downplayed the possible impact Nasharuddin's presence may have on the outcome of the by-election.

"We do not focus on PAS leaders but stick to issues at hand relating to the development of the people of Manek Urai," the International Trade and Industry Minister said.

Husam: Denies KJ 's claim that he banned Nasharuddin

In a related development, senior Kelantan Exco member Husam Musa also denied accusations levelled by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin that he (Husam) was responsible for stopping Nasharuddin from campaigning.

"Nasharuddin may have had some other things to do. He also did not attend Parliament. Is it possible that I also prevented Nasharuddin going to Parliament?

"Maybe in a day or two Nasharuddin will turn up. I think that Khairy is trying to divert the Kelantan people's attention from the state's oil royalty issue," he said.

He pointed out that he was just an ordinary appointed member of the central committee, powerless to prevent anyone from campaigning in the by-election.

Nashruddin, the incumbent had beaten off the challenge for the deputy president's post from Husam and Mohamad Sabu in the last PAS Muktamar.