Press Digest - Three way fight in Kuala Kangsar inevitable

PETALING JAYA: A three cornered fight looks inevitable in Kuala Kangsar as neither PAS nor Parti Amanah Rakyat (Amanah) wants to make way for the other to make a straight fight with Barisan Nasional (BN) possible.
Amanah believes it is offering the Chinese and open-minded Muslims in the constituency an option whereas PAS thinks the Muslim voters know Amanah is the traitor which broke away from the party.
According to a report in China Press today both PAS and Amanah are convinced that their votes would not be split even if it is a three-cornered fight.
They believe BN would lose a significant number of votes due to the issues besetting the government, giving all three contenders the same chance in the June 18 by-election.
Both PAS and Amanah have also indicated that it would be good to win the by-election but that there is nothing to lose even if they are defeated. This is another reason why both want to join the fray.
Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria told the daily the party would not be bothered whom Amanah is going to field as the party's leaders and grassroots are fully behind the PAS candidate.
"It may be a three-cornered fight, but I don't think our votes would be split, especially with the number of issues plaguing the government. Many voters will switch to support the PAS candidate," he said.
"The Malay voters know very well that PAS has long been fighting for Islam while Amanah is a breakaway from PAS. The voters know who are the traitors."
Meanwhile, Amanah secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir also did not think that the Opposition's votes would be split in a three-cornered fight.
He expected a swing in votes to the Opposition, allowing one of the opposition candidates to win.
"Of course, a straight fight is the ideal situation. Amanah still hopes to reach a consensus with PAS (that only one of them should face BN)."