MUAR: PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar today insisted that the party is not afraid to take on DAP in the Johor state election.
Responding to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s claim that PAS was avoiding direct contests against DAP in the July 11 polls, Samsuri pointed out that the party has fielded a candidate in the Jementah state seat, which was held by DAP’s Ng Kor Sim before the state assembly was dissolved.
“The question of PAS being afraid simply does not arise. I think that is merely (Loke’s) perception,” said the Perikatan Nasional chairman.
“We conducted our analysis on why we should contest certain seats and not others, and we fielded candidates where we believe we can mount a credible fight.
“We know it’s a major challenge for us when contesting in constituencies with a non-Malay majority, so naturally, our calculations are based on our chances of winning and the suitability of the candidate.”
Samsuri was speaking to reporters while campaigning for PN candidate Anuar Hayan in the Maharani state constituency here.
At a ceramah last night, Loke claimed that PAS was hesitant to take on DAP in the state election, where it has chosen to rely on its “proxy”, Barisan Nasional, instead.
He said PAS’s decision not to contest seats held by DAP was part of a strategy to consolidate votes for BN candidates, particularly those from MCA.
PAS, representing PN, is fielding Saifullah Abdul Wahab in Jementah, setting up a three-cornered contest against Ng, the incumbent, and BN’s See Ann Giap.
Ng retained the seat with a 714-vote majority over See in the last state election in 2022.
