Barely two hours after PAS claimed that Kelatan PKR has agreed to allow the Islamic party to contest in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, the state PKR revealed otherwise.

Speaking to reporters after the PAS central committee meeting this afternoon, secretary-general Mustafa Ali said a final decision will not be made until the top leaders of both parties meet.

"At the state level, Kelantan PKR is ready to give the seat to PAS. But we have to discuss at the central level," he added.

 

Mustafa said that this was a decision made after preliminary discussions between Kelantan PKR and Kelantan PAS recently.

 

"Basically, the PKR and PAS divisions in the state have met and had discussions, and on principle, PKR there is ready to give the seat to PAS to contest.

 

"But this is up to the discretion of the central leadership.

"The PAS central leadership will meet the PKR leadership and decide on this soon," he added.

However, Kelantan PKR chairperson Ab Aziz Ab Kadir denied the matter, according to Sinar Harian .

"I don't know about this issue, for now we are (Kelantan PKR) waiting for a decision from the top leadership on this matter," he was quoted as saying.

The by-election claim could further exacerbate the already fractious relationship between the two parties over the Selangor menteri besar crisis.

 

Voices from within PAS have demanded the seat even though it is traditionally a PKR seat and the latter had stated their intention to maintain the status quo.

The state seat fell vacant following the death of PKR incumbent Noor Zahidi Omar.