State PAS chief Fauzi Yusoff maintained that they were not boycotting Lau’s election campaign, but were just unable to assist the Bayan Lepas candidate due to the lack of resources, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Right now, every candidate needs to bring their own machinery with them. Likewise, Lau has to bring his own people.

“We don’t have enough (members to help campaign). In fact, our election machinery in certain areas needs help too. So, whoever is contesting needs to lead their own machinery,” he was quoted as saying.

Fauzi reiterated his statement from yesterday that Penang PAS will clear up the matter and strengthen ties with Gerakan by explaining the issue of Lau’s candidacy in Bayan Lepas to its grassroots.

Previously, a group of PAS grassroots members protested against Lau being parachuted in to be the PN candidate for Bayan Lepas, saying that state PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim should be fielded instead to contest the Malay-majority seat.

While Lau was nominated to contest the seat anyway, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman drew attention after being barred from attending a PN event in Sungai Dua, Penang, earlier this week.

A video released by Malaysiakini caught the moment Lau was told to “go away” by Iszuree.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has since apologised to Lau on behalf of his party, saying the Gerakan chief should have been welcomed to the event and treated as a guest, in accordance with Islamic principles.

However, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong was later reported to have said that PAS should censure Iszuree for his actions and make him apologise to Lau personally.