KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Pakatan Harapan today questioned whether Pas will "sacrifice" yet another member and allow Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to contest in the upcoming Mahkota by-election.
Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said Pas had already employed this strategy in Nenggiri, Kelantan, and said it was "not impossible" that it would be repeated in Mahkota.
"The Pas Johor leadership 'enthusiastically' made comments and assumptions when the Amanah Kluang chief had voiced intentions to field an Amanah candidate in the Mahkota by-elections.
"Need I remind Pas leaders that Amanah is not like Pas. They allowed their division youth chief to leave the party and join Bersatu, simply because they could not accept a Bersatu candidate, and he used the "moon" symbol.
"This further shows how Pas belittled and demeaned Bersatu during the recent Nenggiri state by-election," he said in a statement today.
Perikatan Nasional's candidate for the recently concluded Nenggiri by-election was Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, who was previously Gua Musang Pas Youth chief.
He allegedly joined Bersatu two days before he was announced as the coalition's candidate for the Aug 17 polls.
Meanwhile, Aminolhuda, who is also Sri Gading member of Parliament, said parties within the unity government conducted high-level discussions before making decisions on who to field for elections.
He said the leadership would only do so after evaluating and considering requests from grassroots supporters of each party in the unity government.
"Will we once again see a Bersatu candidate representing PN in the Mahkota by-election being chosen from Pas members joining Bersatu just two days before the nomination?" he asked.
The Amanah Johor chairman reiterated that his party and Johor Umno would work together in the Mahkota polls, set for Sept 28.
"Amanah Johor and Umno Johor will continue to work together in the by-election as we did in the Simpang Jeram state seat by-election and the Pulai parliamentary by-election last year," he added.
The by-election for the seat was called following the death of the previous assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain.
She died on Aug 2 due to internal bleeding at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang, Johor.
In the 2022 Johor state election, she secured the Mahkota seat with a majority of 5,166 votes in a four-way contest.
The Election Commission has scheduled Sept 14 for nomination day.