PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang missed his flight and so could not attend the announcement of its candidate for he Pengkalan Kubor by-election, said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

“The president should have been present but the plane was delayed until 6.30pm to Kota Bahru and that is why he could not make it. God willing, he will be around tomorrow,” explained Ahmad Yakob.

Abdul Hadi, deputy president Mohamed Sabu and party vice presidents were also absent during the announcement of PAS candidate last night.

“The president should have been present but the plane was delayed until 6.30pm to Kota Bahru and that is why he could not make it. God willing, he will be around tomorrow,” explained Ahmad Yakob.

At the announcement of the PAS candidate last night, Parti Keadilan Rakyat was represented by its Kelantan deputy leader, Prof Madya Shahrun Ibrahim, with no representatives from DAP.

Ahmad, who is also PAS Kelantan commissioner, explained that Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, who is a member of the PAS’s central committee and Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar represented the PAS central committee.

Ahmad said this to reporters after attending an event with the leader of the Buddhist Monk and Thai community at Wat Machimaran, Kampung Jubakar, Friday evening.

Also present were PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and PAS candidate for the Pengkalan Kubor state seat, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim said the Thai community are voters for the Pengkalan Kubor state seat.

He said his naming as a candidate was at the discretion of PAS Kelantan and hoped that the voters in the constituency would support him.

When asked to comment on BN’s candidate, Razi Mat Mat Ail, Rosdi Wan said he does not think that the BN candidate would have an edge in the by-election just because the teacher has a pondok (religious school).

“There is not much of a rivalry as he is not an Ustaz. During school holidays, he is able to gather the students at the pondok, but I see him as a district education officer. I’m not scared, “ he said.

He reiterated that he would create programs to bring himself closer to the people.