PAS has stressed that there are no political crises in Kelantan and Kedah, the two states controlled by the party.

Its secretary-general Mustafa Ali said the purported turmoil in the two states including the speculation of an imminent by-election in Kedah due to a number of Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons leaving the party, was merely a media game.

"There are no problems in Kelantan dan Kedah, and I've obtained the facts of the matter. It's nothing really.

"It's only the media blowing the issues out of proportion," he said at a press conference at the Terengganu PAS office in Kuala Terengganu today.

Various issues had been linked to Kelantan PAS leaders, including Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat over the Haj prigrimage sponsorship for him  by a businessman and the appointment of his son-in-law as the chief executive officer of Kelantan Menteri Besar Corporation which came under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

In another development, Mustafa said DAP's victory in the Sibu by-election had given PAS the confidence to establish a foothold in Sabah and Sarawak.

"We believe the voters in Sabah and Sarawak are getting to know PAS better as the result of the party's campaign in the recent Sibu parliamentary seat by-election.

"In light of this, the party will open more branches there," he said.

According to him, PAS had been making careful preparations for the next general election, which the party expected would be held at the same time with  the Sarawak state election, perhaps in April next year.

He denied that PKR was now a liability for the opposition pact as an increasing number of its elected representatives and leaders at the divisional and branch levels had left the party of late, compared with PAS and DAP.

"PKR is not a liabilty. It's only normal for a new party to experience some instabilty. PAS was like that. Perhaps after some time and when the 'thorns in the flesh' have all gone, the party (PKR) will be stable," he said.

- Bernama