Talk is rife that PAS may be fielding a woman candidate for the Tenang by-election on Jan 30.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the candidate mentioned is an ex-teacher who is a local.

He said she was part of the leadership line up in PAS' Tenang branch.

Nomination day is Jan 22 for the by-election which follows the death of BN assemblyperson Sulaiman Taha on Jan 17 due to

diabetes-related blood infection.

PAS' election director for the by-election Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is also Johor PAS deputy comissioner, when contacted, said PAS' central leadership would be deciding who would be the candidate and that an announcement on this could be expected soon.

He described the speculation as "mere rumours" but admitted the woman's name was indeed on the shortlist of names being considered.

Meanwhile, Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner III Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the party was not placing very high hopes of wresting the state seat from the BN as it was an Umno stronghold.

However, despite the pessimism, he said PAS would go all out to give the BN a good fight in the by-election.

- Bernama