PUTRAJAYA: Amidst Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election boycotting claims in both parties, Perikatan Nasional (PN) is in "panic mode" while the Prime Minister is ready to join the campaign.

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said PN's candidate Khairul Azhari Saut who is also Bersatu Hulu Selangor division acting chief keeps on being boycotted by the Pas top leadership.

Fahmi said even Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali couldn't hide his dismay when Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan failed to attend their ceramah yesterday.

"The Pas top leadership keeps on boycotting the KKB by-election five days into the campaigning period.

"We thought that only Starbucks and KFC are being boycotted but it appears that the PN candidate is also being boycotted.

"The whole Pas leadership in Perlis during nomination day and that had sent a clear message. It means that Pas is not backing PN's candidate in this by-election.

"I was informed that Takiyiddin was supposed to join the campaign but he didn't. Azmin's face revealed everything. He cannot hide the fact that he was severely disappointed that the Pas top leaders are not appearing in KKB," he said in a press conference after launching the Putrajaya PH office.

Fahmi also dismissed claims that Anwar is also boycotting the candidate by not joining the campaign.

He said Anwar could come "anytime".

"The Prime Minister was the one who signed the watikah calon. He had already gone down to KKB with the Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari for a Hari Raya programme and had scrutinised the issues in KKB.

"He can come anytime. What's clear as of today is that no top Pas leaders are joining the campaign," he added.

He said PN has an even bigger problem as their candidate's qualifications have already been questioned.

Earlier this week, Fahmi had questioned whether the top Pas leaders are boycotting the by-election as they have yet to appear in KKB.

At the same press conference, Fahmi had also said Anwar would not join the PH campaigns as it is the norm for the prime minister to skip campaigning for by-elections.

On Saturday, during nomination day, Fahmi had raised questions about the presence of top Pas leaders in Perlis rather than in KKB.

Fahmi said the matter was quite 'interesting', but he was not sure what Pas leaders were trying to convey by not being in KKB, especially on Nomination Day for the by-election.

PKR deputy information chief (1) Datuk R. Ramanan also said Ramasamy should be held accountable if voters choose a candidate who is not from the government.

He also questioned if Ramasamy would lend a hand if a 'non-government' candidate wins the election.

However, the matter was refuted by Radzi yesterday who said their absence was to attend a Pas open house which was already planned much earlier.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed May 11 for the KKB by-election following the passing of its incumbent assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong.

The KKB by-election would see a four-corner battle between Pakatan Harapan's Pang Sock Tao, Perikatan Nasional's Khairul Azhari Saut, Hafizah Zainudin from Parti Rakyat Malaysia and Nyau Ke Xin who is an independent candidate.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1045205/kkb-election-not-only-kfc-and-starbucks-are-being-boycotted-also-pn