Disagreeing with PAS, former Umno minister Annuar Musa said he is on board with the suggestion of a joint government between PAS and Umno to help rebuild flood-ravaged Kelantan.

Annuar said in a Facebook post that he sees a more challenging year ahead for Kelantan and added that with a joint government, it is the people who would benefit more.

“I have consistently, from day one, wanted to see PAS and Umno together and I am confident that there will be no loss in terms of religion, race and country,” Annuar (left) said in the posting today.

Earlier today, the Malay daily Sinar Harian published an article titled "Demi Rakyat" (for the people's sake), quoting its owner Hussamuddin Yaakob as suggesting that an Umno -PAS coalition might be the only solution for Kelantan at this juncture.

Hussamuddin said the people in Kelantan would continue to suffer from being in the midst of a power struggle between the two political parties, when what the people needed now was help.

Annuar, who is the MP for Ketereh, agreed with this suggestion and said he was “willing to give up his seat as an MP” if needed.

“I would rather not to be called a YB as long as the people and the state of Kelantan are prosperous,” he added.

Annuar said one of the main goals of a political party is to race off to offer the citizens better leadership and better services, yet in times like this, factionalism becomes detrimental to society.

Meanwhile, lunging off in the opposite direction, PAS vice-president Husam Musa poured cold water on Husammuddin's suggestion.

Husam (left), who hails from Kelantan, which is the party's Islamic stronghold, described Husammuddin's argument as "rapuh" or brittle.

Why, he asked, wouldn’t Petronas, which has been reaping riches from the sea off the coast of Kelantan, show a little bit of humanity by giving RM3 billion for the purpose of rebuilding the state?

"If Petronas donates RM3 billion to the state government though a special fund, we would be able to rebuild Kelantan," he told Malaysiakini.

Husam then said in a statement that Petronas should take this opportunity to “pay off” its debt to the people of Kelantan.


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