The Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate said local folk spoke to him of their love and respect for the former PAS spiritual leader, who was fondly called Tok Guru, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“They know and respect Tok Guru, and they’re channelling that love and respect to me, his son,” Nik Omar was quoted as saying by the Malay language daily.

He believed the seat was there for the taking with former MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman sitting out the general election (GE15) after being suspended by Umno.

Nik Omar said Pasir Salak was an Umno stronghold as the seat had been held by Tajuddin for three consecutive terms since 2008.

However, he said, Tajuddin’s suspension from Umno presented an opportunity for other parties to win the seat. “Although it’s a big challenge, I will work on it.”

He dismissed the notion that not being a local would ruin his chances, saying such sentiments were only relevant in the 1970s and 1980s.

He pointed out that other parties had also fielded “outsiders”, citing Khairy Jamaluddin contesting in Sungai Buloh for BN.

“I respect the local candidates, but that (notion) is not relevant anymore.”

Nik Omar is in a four-cornered fight in Pasir Salak. He is facing BN’s Khairul Azwan Harun, Jamaluddin Yahya of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Zairol Hizam Zakari (Pejuang).