The Malaysian Insight

AFTER taking a stand in not appealing against the election court’s decision to nullify the party’s general election victory in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan now hopes the by-election could be held simultaneously with state polls. 

“It’s an appropriate decision which the election commission should even agree with,” he said.  

“We made a decision not to appeal so that the EC (Election Commission) could hold the by-election simultaneously with the state election. 

“We hoped this would be so. We are certain the EC would think alike.” 

He said it was not difficult to have a simultaneous election as the EC had the experience for it. 

“The only difference is that the voters here will vote twice,” Takiyuddin said in reference to voting for the state assembly and for parliament. 

Explaining PAS’s decision not to appeal, Takiyuddin said it was because it would take the court a long time to decide. 

He said it could be at least another six months before a higher court heard the appeal. 

“PAS simply does not want to leave the constituency without an elected representative to service the people there. We do not want our voters to be left in the lurch.” 

On the chance that PAS would give Ahmad Amzad Hashim another shot at the seat, Takiyuddin hinted that it was a possibility. 

“The court merely overturned the result. It did not disqualify the candidate. 

“The court had also not passed any conditions or restrictions. Therefore, there is nothing to prevent us from putting up the same candidate. 

“So, the candidate who contested in GE15 can re-contest. And possibly (we’ll field) the same candidate. 

The Malaysian Insight last week reported that the court decision had split PAS Terengganu with one group pushing for an appeal and the other just taking it on the chin. 

The group pushing for the appeal felt that the court decision had painted PAS as a corrupt party. 

The Terengganu election court in annulling the victory of Ahmad Amzad Hashim of Perikatan Nasional on June 27, ruled that the petitioner, Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Zubir Embong, had succeeded in proving that corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters in GE15. 

Mohd Zubir, from Umno, had filed the petition on January 3, alleging there was “clear evidence” from witnesses who said they had received money from PAS. 

Justice Mohd Firuz Jaffril in his ruling stated that there was sufficient evidence to declare the election in Kuala Terengganu null and void according to Section 36 of the Election Offences Act. – July 8, 2023.