KOTA BARU: Pas will back the Umno candidate representing the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Kimanis by-election next month.
Its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said his party is confident that Umno would field a right person to represent the party in the by-election.
“Pas fully supports Umno's move, representing BN, to put a candidate in the Kimanis by-election that will be held on Jan 18 next year.
“We will mobilise our election machinery in Sabah to assist the candidate to ensure Kimanis remains in the hands of the opposition. BN had won the seat in the last general election,” he said in a statement.
Takiyuddin said Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang would attend the launch of the BN machinery in Kimanis on Jan 1.
“The party will also send its senior leaders, particularly from Sabah and Sarawak, to attend the nomination day on Jan 4 to support the opposition's candidate from BN.
Incumbent Kimanis MP, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will not be defending. The former Umno leader turned independent said he would, however, contest the Kimanis seat in the 15th general election.
The Kimanis by-election is being held after the Federal Court on Dec 1 upheld the Special Election Court's decision in August last year which nullified Anifah's victory in the GE14.
The EC has announced Jan 18 as polling day for the Kimanis parliamentary seat by-election. Nomination day falls on Jan 4 while early voting will take place on Jan 14.