PD POLLS | Ahead of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's appearance on the Port Dickson by-election campaign trail for Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today indicated his intention to engage the prime minister in a forum session.

"If there is a forum with the prime minister, that would be best," Hadi said during a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Teluk Kemang today.

"That is up to the prime minister, whether he feels threatened by me or not," he added, when pressed on whether Mahathir's expected arrival tomorrow was due to Harapan feeling threatened by him stumping for PAS candidate Mohd Nazari Mokhtar.

After 20 years, Mahathir is once again expected to share the same stage as Anwar in Port Dickson tomorrow night.

Mahathir previously said that while he has not campaigned in any recent by-elections, he would do so for Anwar to dispel the perception of strained ties between the two.

'Choose a moral leader'

Speaking on the Port Dickson by-election, Hadi urged constituents not to repeat the “mistake” of voters in the United States who failed to elect a leader of good moral standing.

“We know they voted for the president (Donald Trump) they have today, and many officers subsequently resigned.

“People are suffering because of an election where the people did not get a leader of good moral standing.

“This has happened (in the US). It should be a lesson to us. Malaysians should learn from what has happened in the US,” he said.

At the same press conference, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the party hopes that the court will expedite the hearing on a suit brought by a Port Dickson voter regarding Anwar’s eligibility to contest as a candidate.

“For now we will continue with the by-election. If the court decides before the by-election, that would be great.

“If it (the suit) proceeds, I’m confident the court will arrive at a decision. If our votes are the second highest, we would be declared the winners (if the court decides to disqualify Anwar),” he said.

Takiyuddin was referring to a suit filed by Port Dickson voter Noraziah Mohd Sharif on Sept 28 to seek a court declaration on whether Anwar is eligible to contest in the by-election.

She claimed in her affidavit that the royal pardon for Anwar was defective, and does not exempt him from being disqualified to contest in elections for a five-year period.