PAS has not ruled out contesting several constituencies currently held by DAP in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, as the party seeks to expand its presence beyond its traditional support base.
Negeri Sembilan PAS chief Fairuz Isa said the party is aiming to contest more than 10 seats, similar to its participation in the 2023 state election, while also defending the three seats it currently holds.
However, he noted that the final number and location of seats to be contested would depend on negotiations should cooperation with other parties materialise.
Possible move into opposition-held seats
Fairuz said PAS is aware that other parties are interested in working together, which could affect the allocation of Malay-majority constituencies during seat negotiations.
As a result, he did not dismiss the possibility of PAS contesting seats currently held by Pakatan Harapan and DAP, particularly in areas where Malays make up around 40% of the electorate.
He said such constituencies could become viable options if there are insufficient Malay-majority seats available for the party to contest.
Candidate selection nearly complete
Fairuz revealed that PAS has completed almost 90% of its candidate selection process ahead of the election.
Among the key criteria for prospective candidates are integrity, the ability to serve the people effectively and being below the age of 60.
He also called on party members and election machinery to accept any decision made by the party leadership with an open mind and remain united throughout the election campaign.
PAS seeks to build on 2023 performance
In the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election, Perikatan Nasional won five of the 36 seats it contested.
PAS secured victories in Paroi, Serting and Bagan Pinang, while Bersatu won the Labu and Gemencheh constituencies.
The Election Commission has set Aug 1 as polling day for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election. Nomination day will be held on July 18, while early voting is scheduled for July 28.
