GE14 | PAS today confirmed that it has finalised 90 percent of its candidates for the upcoming general election.

However, party president Abdul Hadi Awang said he will not be announcing the names of the candidates before the nomination day.

“It's not important for us to follow other parties in announcing candidates (to avoid sabotage), we have our own approach.

“We have chosen these candidates based on their (good) behaviour as well as the views of the grassroots,” said Hadi in a press conference in Serdang Jaya today.

Hadi was responding to reports by The New Straits Times and Berita Harian that BN will be announcing its full list of electoral candidates on April 2.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), however, had poured cold water on the reports, stating that this was a mere speculation. 

The New Straits Times and Berita Harian had cited sources as saying the announcement will be made at the Putra World Trade Centre, and will be attended by leaders of all 13 component parties.

Letters of appointment will supposedly be given by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to the candidates contesting the 222 parliamentary seats, which would be the first ceremony of its kind.

In the last general election, Najib had presented candidate appointment letters to component party leaders five days before nomination day.

It is understood that the ceremony to present the appointment letters to all candidates is to boost spirits ahead of GE14.

The speculated date would be five days before BN's expected launch of its manifesto at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, on April 7.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on the possibility of sabotage, Hadi expressed his belief that this would not occur.

“No, InsyaAlllah (there won't be sabotage). Because people know that contesting under PAS is a big responsibility, this is why we are the ones who look for candidates instead of them looking for us,” he said.