Nominations are not until this Saturday, but already allegations have been levelled at the BN candidate for the March 6 Kerdau by-election in Pahang.

NONE Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad ( left ) is being accused of lying about his qualification, of failing in his studies and buying his degree from the Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Syed Ibrahim, known among the locals as “Syed Ibra”, smiled broadly when asked today to comment on the allegations.

“Whatever they choose to say, we cannot follow them (the opposition). They can say all sorts of things. It’s no use to respond too much to them,” he said.

“Let the people know (the truth) themselves,” he added.

    

Syed Ibrahim, who is vice-head of the Kuala Krau Umno division, is an Arabic language graduate from Al-Azhar University.

He was at the Al Khairiah secondary religious school in Temerloh before furthering his studies at the university from 1989 to 1996.

Mentri Besar Adnan Yaakob said he himself looked at Syed Ibrahim’s certificate.

“If he had no qualification, I would not have picked him as special officer for religious affairs in my office. The allegations against him are a lie and a slander,” he said.

The by-election follows the death of BN assemblyperson Zaharuddin Abu Kassim of a heart attack on Feb 12 at age 63.

- Bernama