Attempts by PKR grassroots and state leaders to field their candidate in the Permatang Pasir by-election showed a further increase in friction between the two parties, said Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong.

Oh said it was common knowledge that PKR, PAS and DAP were strangers at rendezvous in Pakatan Rakyat, with leaders of individual party heavily promoting different political ideology.

“Their quarrels over almost every single issue only show the leaders have self-interests at the expense of the people,” said Oh in a statement.

He said the open lobby by PKR to contest in the by-election also meant it had no respect of PAS, which had fielded its candidate in the state constituency in the past three general elections.

Oh said the seat should “naturally belong to PAS” to fill its candidate when there was a vacancy.

On Monday, PR “paramount leader” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PAS should be given the seat, despite requests from PKR grassroots and state leaders asking for the seat to be given to their party.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman from PAS.