DAP wants Pas to boycott by-election

Move will send a strong signal of Pakatan's unhappiness over indelible ink, says Guan Eng

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will propose to its coalition partner Pas  to boycott the Kuala Besut by-election.

The reason for it is because of the indelible ink issue. Lim said he would forward the proposal to Pakatan's supreme council. However, any final say on the matter would be left to Pas, he added.

"If Pas decides to contest, DAP will still render the necessary assistance," he said after opening the party's community centre here yesterday.

Lim said the Election Commission was confused over the use of the indelible ink and it was handling the matter lightly.

He also said the EC had yet to respond to Pakatan's claims of election fraud.

As such, Lim said boycotting the by-election would send a strong signal of Pakatan's dissatisfaction.

When asked how crucial the Kuala Besut seat was, Lim said if both sides of the political divide won 16 seats each, the state assembly speaker on the coalition to run the state government.

If Pas accepts DAP's proposal, it will not be the first time that Pakatan would be boycotting a by-election. In 2007, it boycotted the Batu Talam by-election in Pahang by not fielding any candidate.

The Kuala Besut by-election has to be held following the death of its assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar (Barisan Nasional).

Dr Rahman, who was also state Health, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman, defeated Pas' sole female candidate in Terengganu in the 13th General Election with a 2,434-vote majority.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Besut Umno division is confident voters will support BN in the by-election.

Division information bureau chairman Datuk Wan Zakaria Abdul Rahman said this was because BN was fulfilling its promises made in the GE13 through various development projects.

DAP ni Mastermind,yang bodoh PAS sebab selalu kena jadi pak turut....please wake up PAS!!!