PAS has thrown to the wind its pledges to be civil in the Kuala Besut by-election campaign by firing the first salvo against Barisan Nasional candidate Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali claimed that the Barisan’s candidate was not well-accepted by the people as he was not a local-born as well as being a parachute candidate.
“I do not intend to launch personal attacks against the candidate but we have received negative feedback from the voters here about him. I have heard a lot of versions, including the fact that he was not born nor is he living here.
“He was also not the choice of local Umno but was chosen by Putrajaya,” he told reporters at the PAS by-election headquarters in Kampung Baru here yesterday.
He said that if what he heard was indeed true, then Tengku Zaihan would obviously not be well accepted by residents.
“Barisan and Umno have failed to understand and respect the aspirations of the people who want a local candidate to champion their causes,” he said.
On the other hand, he said PAS candidate Endut@Azlan Yusof was a local personality and well-liked by the people of Kuala Besut.
At another function, Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said rubbished the Opposition’s claim that Tengku Zaihan was not a local boy, adding that he had worked in the district Drainage and Irrigation Department for five years and was only transferred to the headquarters in Putrajaya in February.
“Talk that our candidate is not from Kuala Besut is not true. Please don’t spread lies. Remember, we are in the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.
On Friday, both Barisan and PAS had pledged to conduct a civil campaign for the by-election in respect of the fasting month.
Mustafa also claimed that unemployment and poverty were among the main issues for people in the area.
“We will resolve these problems if we are chosen. The welfare of the people will be our main agenda here,” he said
