'Keep calm' - Kelantan MB to supporters as Nik Abduh's candidacy hangs in the balance

PUTRAJAYA - Pas’ deputy spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob neither confirmed or deny allegations that the son of the late Pas leader, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz is not shortlisted as a Pas parliamentary candidate in Kelantan for the 15th General Election (GE15).

Ahmad has asked everyone to be patient as there was still a few days left before Pas makes its official statement on their candidates.

The final decision, he said, has not been made and anything could happen before Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidates announcement expected to be held in the next few days.

"We have not made a final decision yet because PN will announce it on Nov 2. I do not rule out the possibility that the Pas candidates list is not final, we have left it to the party’s leadership to decide.

"However, the list of names (of Pas candidates) is all there, but cannot be officially announced just yet," he said.

Earlier, Sinar Premium reported that there has been speculations some big names and existing MPs from Pas may be dropped by the party’s leadership.

It was said that among the big names that would not be defending their seats were Nik Mohamad Abduh, and former Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry II Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, who is the incumbent Tumpat MP.

A source said Nik Mohamad Abduh's name was dropped as he often issued statements that contradicted the stance of Pas leadership and was seen as one of the leaders who was close to the top leadership of Umno, while Che Abdullah was due to various reasons including his controversial online wedding that had gone viral last year.

The source also said they may name Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary or a female muslimat candidate to defend their stronghold in Bachok parliamentary seat.

He said Ahmad Marzuk’s Pengkalan Chepa seat will likely be taken over by Chempaka state assemblyman Ahmad Fathan Mahmood.