GUA MUSANG: Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) are like brothers in Perikatan Nasional's family and they can help each other if needed.
Therefore, Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the party has no problem allowing the former Gua Musang Pas deputy youth chief Mohd Rizwadi Ismail to become a Bersatu member.
"Pas has realised that the issue where Rizwadi who is contesting in Nenggiri state by-election under Pas-Bersatu ticket, has become a hot topic among the rival party as he was a former Pas member and joined Bersatu recently.
"But for us (Pas), we have no issue as both Pas and Bersatu are like brothers in PN and we will helping each other if needed.
"Our president also has given his statement that Pas supports Rizwadi. The problem is in the opposing party when it involves Bersatu," he said.
Takiyuddin, who is Kota Baru member of parliament said this in a ceramah in Bertam here last night.
Takiyuddin reminded Nenggiri voters not to be be fooled by all the promises made by the certain quarters.
"I give an assurance that our candidate will be in Nenggiri all the time if he wins the state seat as he is from Bertam.
"The candidate from the other party will not be in Nenggiri as he is a businessman and he might be in other areas most of the time," he added.
On Friday, Pas said the party pledged its support for Rizwadi who is Bersatu's candidate for the state by-election.
The statement by Pas came on the heels of rumours suggesting that Rizwadi, who was previously the Gua Musang Pas Youth chief, joined Bersatu two days before he was announced as Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Aug 17 by-election.
Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had said the Bersatu man is well-acquainted with the locals and that he has good ties with the community, especially the youth in Nenggiri.
He ahad also said with his military background and proven track record, Pas fully endorses and trusts Rizwadi as a PN candidate and believes he would be an effective representative, committed to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of all Nenggiri residents.
However, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accused Pas of cheating its political ally in Perikatan Nasional over the selection of its candidate for the Nenggiri by-election.
Zahid claimed that Pas cheated Bersatu when it allowed Rizwadi to leave the Islamist party and join Bersatu.
He said Pas has been using these tactics all this while to gain supporters for the party and hoped voters in Nenggiri would realise this by giving their votes to BN's candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani.