Boycott call 'hypocritical'

NOT CONFIDENT: Guan Eng's call to sit out Kuala Besut by-election is a sign of fear, say leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: THE call by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for Pas to boycott the coming Kuala Besut by-election in protest against the Election Commission has been described as a clear sign of hypocrisy.

"If they think they should protest against the EC, they shouldn't have sworn in elected representatives in the first place," said Terengganu state executive councillor Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman.

Ahmad Razif, who is also Seberang Takir Barisan Nasional assemblyman, said Lim was making the call out of "fear and lack of confidence" that the opposition would break through the Umno fortress.

"It is up to them if they want to boycott it, but this also shows that they are not confident of winning the seat."

Lim had on Sunday, suggested that Pas boycott the by-election over the indelible ink issue. He said he would raise the possibility of a boycott with the opposition coalition supreme council.

His suggestion had also raised eyebrows among political pundits, suggesting that such a call could be derived from fear that Pas may form a unity government with BN should they win and there is a hung state legislature.

BN Muar member of parliament Datuk Razali Ibrahim said Lim was being a hypocrite, as he himself had indirectly accepted the election results as sound by swearing-in as an elected representative.

"He is just making a political statement. Isn't it the same EC that made him run the office?" said Razali.

Pas leaders, however, said the party had no plans to abstain from the by-election.

The party's Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said discussions on the by-election had already been held at preliminary levels.

"On principle, we will take part in the by-election but we still have to wait for the official announcement from the party."

He denied the possibility of forming a unity government with BN, describing such talk as "political gossip".

Meanwhile, Terengganu PKR chairman Azan Ismail said Pas should not act defensively towards a friendly suggestion that his party contest in the by-election.

It was reported that Azan had expressed interest in contesting for the vacant seat and this had led to an outburst by Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Azan said his statement was only to signify the opposition pact's "cooperation" to contest in the by-election.

"It would be better if he had welcomed the suggestion and said it would be up to the opposition pact's top leadership to decide."

The Kuala Besut by-election will be held by Aug 27 following the death of assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar.