Some 1,500 PAS members from six branches in Selama, Perak, are reportedly threatening to boycott the upcoming general election because the local PAS chief had been dropped as an election candidate.

Sinar Harian 's online edition reported yesterday that this followed the party decision to field former CID chief Mohd Fauzi Shaari as a candidate for the Larut parliamentary seat.

NONE As a result, PAS Youth Perak information chief Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin ( right ) had to make for Fauzi and contest at the Selama state assembly seat, whereas PAS Larut division chief Mohd Dhari Othman had to be dropped as an election candidate altogether.

"The change happened when PAS's central leadership brought in Fauzi as Larut candidate, who had joined PAS for merely four months ago," PAS Sungai Bayor branch cheif Ahmad Zanian Md Shuhor was quoted as saying.

He reportedly said that all PAS members in Kampung Tapah, Kampung Garok, Kampung Teluk Mas, Sungai Bayor, Kampung Air Kuning and Redang Panjang branches are unhappy with the decision to have Akmal as the Selama candidate.

"Firstly, Akmal is not from Selama. He came from, and still lives in Batu Karau, whereas Dhari is born in Kampung Tapah and is a true son of Selama.

"In addition, Dhari had worked for the party in Larut especially Selama until he is well known by peoples of all ages here," Zanian reportedly said in a press conference that was also attended by PAS Kampung Tapah branch leaders.

He reportedly added that Dhari is experienced and well-educated whereas Akmal is young and inexperienced, and then accused the party of nepotism since Akmal is party president Abdul Hadi Awang's son-in-law.

Zanian was also quoted saying that grassroot leaders had negotiated and appealed to central and state leaders on the matter, but to no avail.