BUTTERWORTH: Penang Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) has rejected the candidacy of Azman Shah Othman as the party's Permatang Pauh by-election candidate.
Its chief Datuk Gary Nair described Azman as a "joker" and reiterated that the party did not know who he was.
"We have learnt that today, a so-called PRM member will contest in the Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7.
"As I have stated in my press conference on Friday, we categorically reject this person whom we have no inkling about.
"This 'joker', who is not even a party member, dares to use our name and flag," said Nair in a statement today.
Earlier today, Election Commission official deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah had confirmed that Azman presented a surat watikah (appointment letter) to the returning officer when he filed his nomination papers at Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara in Bukit Mertajam, here.
Nair however said they would write to the Registrar of Societies to verify the authenticity of the appointment letter.
"Penang PRM strongly urge him to withdraw his candidacy," he added.