Pas Is Not Being Used By Gerakan Says Tuan Ibrahim

---

 
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as individual party. -NSTP/NIK ABDULLAH NIK OMARSEREMBAN: Pas has dismissed claims suggesting that the Islamist party is being used by Gerakan for the state election in Penang.
Its deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as individual party.
"Both of Pas and Gerakan are component parties in PN.
"We are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as an individual party.
And our candidates who are being fielded in the polls received their 'watikah' (appointment letter to contest in the state election) from PN (and not from Pas and Gerakan)," he told reporters after attending a ceramah in Paroi here today.
Perception that Pas is being used by Gerakan for the contest in the Penang state election persisted following the decision by PN to field Penang PN chairman Datuk Dominic Lau as its candidate for the Bayan Lepas seat in Penang.
The Bayan Lepas state seat became an issue of contention after Pas Bayan Lepas said it would not accept a non-Malay candidate in the Malay-majority seat.
Several Pas leaders had accused Lau of pulling strings with the top PN leadership to get the seat.
Lau has since then brushed aside such a claim.
On another matter, Tuan Ibrahim said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should remain as an independent institution or risk losing the faith and trust from the people.
The call by the Kubang Kerian member of parliament came on the heels on the statement by MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki who described the allocation of grants by the federal government to the youth of Terengganu as not illegal or corrupt.
Azam was commenting on the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of RM100,000 grant for the Central Development Authority (Ketengah) youth association and RM250,000 for the Terengganu Youth Council.
"Perhaps we need a guideline, what can be announced and what is against (the election regulation).
"Be clear and fair. Do not say (it is against the election regulation) when the opposition prepare a bus to transport their supporters," Tuan Ibrahim said. - NST

---