If it truly loves the people of Kelantan, PAS should give way to Barisan Nasional (BN). This advice came from Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir today.

Commenting on the upcoming crucial Pengkalan Pasir by-election in the state, he said PAS had failed to address the woes of the people and to develop the state.

According to him, PAS had confused the people by claiming that it was the federal government's responsibility to develop the state.

"The people are fed up and have realised the party's failure to develop Kelantan after 15 years in power," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"The PAS-led state government is not getting anywhere. For example, if it rains a bit, two hours of rain would cause floods in the villages, no drainage, so pity the people and this should not be happening after 48 years of independence ," he said after inspecting the Dec 6 by-election preparations.

He said this when asked to comment on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement on Thursday that PAS should not helm the state government if the onus to implement development programmes in Kelantan was on the federal government.

Abdullah said this in response to news reports quoting Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who wanted the voters to vote for PAS in the by-election as the federal government would still continue to channel development programmes to the state.

What are the plans?

Abdul Kadir said the state government should have drawn up short-medium-and long-term plans to develop Kelantan but unfortunately, it had failed to do so.

"What is PAS planning in Kelantan? Nothing is done, a little bit here, a little bit there...and not finding solution for the people's woes," he said.

He said the by-election provided a golden opportunity for the people to elect the BN after PAS had failed to solve their woes.

"The BN wants to win not for winning's sake but to serve the people," he said.

The Pengkalan Pasir by-election was called after the seat fell vacant following the death of PAS assemblyperson Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Jaafar on Oct 31.

It will be a three cornered battle between PAS candidate Hanifa Ahmad, BN candidate Hanafi Mamat and Independent Ibrahim Ali.