JOHOR BARU: Bukit Pasir incumbent Najib Lep has yet to receive any official letter or even a text message saying he has been sacked from PAS for standing in the Johor election as an Independent candidate.

       The retired army officer added that since the Saturday (Feb 26) nomination day, no one from PAS had contacted him.

       “I did not receive any official letter or even a WhatsApp message from PAS saying that I have been sacked from the party for contesting as an Independent,” he said when contacted here on Sunday (Feb 27).

       He claimed that the reason he wanted to stay at Bukit Pasir was due to some “unfinished” job at his constituency.

       “My relationship with the people in Bukit Pasir is like a family regardless of race or religion, and it is them who persuaded me to contest as an Independent.

       Najib, who was the only PAS candidate in Johor who won a seat in the 14th General Election (GE14), likened his situation to a contractor who was in the midst of building a house where it has a strong foundation complete with roof and walls.

       “PAS has every right to take action against me as it is already stipulated in our party’s constitution but I do hope they understand the reason behind my decision.

       “Now, they are putting someone new in my place thinking that person can do a better job while I still hold the blueprint,” he said, adding that he would be part of a six-cornered fight for the Bukit Pasir seat.

       Najib would be facing Parti Pejuang Tanah Air candidate Mohd Akhiri Mahmood, Barisan Nasional’s Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, another Independent candidate Johar Siraj, Pakatan Harapan’s Elia Nadira and Perikatan’s Iqbal Razak in his attempt to defend the seat, which he won in GE14.

       When asked if he knew the Perikatan candidate that he would be facing, Najib, who would be using a picture of a pen as his logo in the state election, said that Iqbal was once his special officer.

       “Iqbal knew that I will be contesting in the same seat as him but I told him that the competition between us must remain healthy and friendly at all times even after the election.

       Meanwhile, Johor PAS commissioner Abdullah Husin said they found no issues with the party top leadership taking disciplinary action against Najib.

       “Going against the party’s syura council decision is a very serious matter,” he said, adding that they would leave it to the PAS leadership in making a decision.

       Abdullah added that Najib was supposed to contest in another location where the latter has a better opportunity in winning the seat instead of staying in Bukit Pasir.

       An online portal has quoted PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat saying Najib has been automatically sacked from the party for contesting as an Independent.

       He said Najib’s act for contesting against PAS candidate Nur Iqbal Abd Razak, who is representing Perikatan Nasional in the Bukit Pasir seat, was against the party’s order and decision.