ALOR SETAR, April 13 – Is Pendang a safe seat for PAS deputy president Mat Sabu in the 13th general election (GE13)? It must be considered a safe bet for PAS to give the Pendang parliamentary seat to Mat Sabu, the vocal party strongman who was born in nearby Penang.
The fact that Mat Sabu will contest at the expense of two-term Member of Parliament, Dr Hayati Othman has raised eyebrows. The fight for the Pendang had seen intense rivalry between Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS over the years. Pendang was won by Datuk Othman Abdul from BN for three terms since 1986.
In 1999, PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor won the seat but his death opened the door for BN to recapture it in a by-election in 2002. However, the BN victory was shortlived. In 2004, PAS wrested Pendang when Dr Hayati contested the seat and won. He repeated the feat in 2008.
Dr Hayati’s strong influence in Pendang caused dissatisfaction among many PAS members who were unhappy to hear
Mat Sabu is also said to be not on good terms with Kedah PAS commissioner and Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak. Without strong support from Azizan supporters, Mat Sabu’s chances of winning the hot seat will be difficult.
Mat Sabu had lost in two successive general elections. In 2004, he lost in Kuala Kedah and in 2008, he moved to Kuala Terengganu and again lost. BN can rely on several ‘old hands’ to contest the Pendang seat.
They are former MP, Datuk Othman Abdul, Pendang Umno division chief Datuk Rozai Shafian and Sungai Tiang state asssemblyman Datuk Suraya Yaacob. Kedah Umno liaison deputy chairman Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said BN will put up winnable candidates to contest in PAS strongholds including Pendang.
“Areas they consider to be white are not necessarily black for us. BN never think about losing before entering the arena eventhough in tough areas,” he added.
BERNAMA
