The Penang PAS leadership has dismissed a report stating that the party has warned PKR not to field its president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or any of her family member as candidate in the Permatang Pauh by-election.

According to The Star today, PAS Permatang Pauh information chief Jamsari Samad also warned PKR not to raise the issue of hudud law in ceramahs as these two subjects are a "no-no" in the constituency, and will upset voters.

Jamsari was quoted in the English language daily as saying that the warning follows feedback from ground sentiments in Permatang Pauh, which goes to poll on May 7.

State PAS deputy commissioner I Mujahid Yusof Rawa ( left ) said that the party never discussed these issues with PKR, whose biggest challenger in the polls will be arch-rival Umno.

On the selection of the PKR candidate, Mujahid said PAS will not interfere in the matter.

"We never discussed it as we respect the other's discretion to choose their own candidate," Mujahid said when contacted.

Mujahid urged the newspaper to be responsible in its reporting, saying that an apology is in order as the report is "false".

"State who said these so we can take action against the person who claims this to be an official PAS stand.

"You can expect such reports from a MCA-controlled newspaper," he quipped.

Wan Azizah is highly speculated to be the candidate for the third time although PKR has yet to make an official announcement on the matter.

She held the Permatang Pauh seat from 1999 to 2008 when her husband Anwar Ibrahim was in jail between 2001 to 2006 for abuse of power related to his first sodomy charge.

In 2008, Wan Azizah vacated the seat to pave the way for Anwar to return to active politics as the PKR de facto head and parliamentary opposition leader.

Anwar in jail again

Anwar is in jail again, serving a five-year term since Feb 10 for sodomy.

He lost the seat again after the Agong rejected his family's application for a pardon and early release from prison.

When contacted, Jamsari said he merely suggested that PKR field a candidate other than Anwar's family at the upcoming by-election, with nomination day on April 25, with early voting on May 3.

He said these are based from feedback he got from some voters here.

"I also propose that the subject of hudud not to be raised at Permatang Pauh as this is a sensitive issue," he added.

However, Jamsari said he merely made the suggestion to the newspaper and have not discussed these issues with PKR.

PKR national deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin ( right ) also said the party has not received such "warning" from PAS.

"The Permatang Pauh PAS chief Omar Hassan participated in the launch of our election machinery last night and he never mentioned these warnings," said the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders came together last night and renewed their vows to help PKR defend the Permatang Pauh seat, which Anwar held since 1982.

The hudud issue is a thorn in Pakatan Rakyat's flesh, which put DAP and PAS at loggerheads when the latter tabled amendments to the 1993 syariah criminal code in Kelantan.

This was unanimously passed by the Kelantan legislative assembly last month, paving the way for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to table a private members bill in parliament.

DAP has severed ties with Hadi over this, while PKR withdrew its support as the matter was not endorsed by the Pakatan leadership council.