Come Dec 6, there will be a battle for the Pengkalan Pasir state seat in Kelantan. A crucial contest between PAS and Barisan Nasional (BN) that could tip the balance of power in the state.

However, PAS today said it was not battling BN or Umno but rather Kelantan Umno chief Annuar Musa (photo).

According to a Bernama report, this is because the party sees Annuar as being bent on dethroning the PAS state government since it came into power in the 1990s, to form a new government and become menteri besar.

"He (Annuar) wants to use Pengkalan Pasir as a momentum to dissolve the state assembly, form a new government and replace the menteri besar," said PAS vice-president Husam Musa.

Next week's contest is crucial because PAS was ruling the state with a wafer thin three-seat majority.

This now been reduced to two following the death of its Pengakalan Pasir incumbent Wan Abul Aziz Wan Jaafar. Hence a defeat in the by-election would place the party in a precarious position and could pave the way for a snap election.

Annuar's defeat

Commenting further, Husam said if his party won than this would be a defeat for Annuar and not Umno.

"PAS strength is (because the party is) fighting Annuar Musa, not Umno. We are not fighting Umno. Don't worry, even if Umno loses, it is Annuar Musa's loss not Umno's," said Husam.

He added that PAS, which is an Islamic based party, will continue to defend its leadership by religious scholars for the state with its spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat at the helm.

The Pengakalan Pasir by-election will be a three cornered battle between PAS candidate Hanifa Ahmad, BN candidate Hanafi Mamat and Independent Ibrahim Ali.

Political analysts note that local issues will play an important role in the campaigning to attract the17, 469 Malay voters in the constituency.

BN predictably, over the four days of campaigning, has attacked the PAS government for allegedly failing to settle the local problems.