Terengganu PAS to ensure strict adherence to election laws

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu PAS will take specific steps and be more cautious in ensuring that the party’s operations for the state election slated for Aug 12 do not contravene any election law.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also PAS vice-president, said this included scrutinising the implementation of the state government’s programmes throughout the campaign period.

Nevertheless, he said, PAS would continue to uphold its mature political culture at all times, especially during the state election process.

“It is indeed our agenda to always be cautious, especially after the (election petition) cases in Marang and Kuala Terengganu, and we will avoid making mistakes.

“As far as I know, we do not have any programmes relating to the distribution of aid or donation during the state polls. We will only proceed with the Awal Muharram programme on July 19,” he said in a press conference after the launch of the Terengganu Report Card 2018-2023 and Book of Success 2018-2022 at Wisma Darul Iman here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Ahmad Samsuri, who is the incumbent for Ru Rendang, said this when asked about PAS’ plans for the state polls, especially after the Terengganu Election Court’s decision on June 27 to nullify the victory of Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, who represented PAS in the 15th General Election (GE15).

Judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril said the court found that the petitioner, Datuk Mohd Zubir Embong of Barisan Nasional, had successfully proven that corrupt practices had occurred with the aim of influencing voters in the election for that parliamentary seat in GE15.

The judge said that even though the petitioner was not called as a witness, other evidence was sufficient to declare the election in Kuala Terengganu null and void under Section 36 of the Election Offences Act.

However, the court upheld the victory of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang as the MP for Marang.