PAS rouses 'diaspora' to defend state

In a hotel function-room filled to standing capacity in Kuala Lumpur, about 1,500 Kelantanese were roused to battle-like fervour yesterday by PAS spiritual leader Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

They showed up for a ‘special address to Anak Kelantan’ by top party leaders bent on ensuring that registered voters will return to the state to cast their ballots on Saturday.

Given the one-seat margin by which the incumbent state government had been clinging to power in the east-coast state, the call to arms was issued none too soon.

The majority of those who attended were young party members living and working in the Klang Valley, which is said to be home to some 50,000 Kelantanese.

Niz Aziz, 76, was undoubtedly the star of the show which stretched beyond two hours.

Usually soft-spoken, even he preached hellfire and brimstone, rousing the audience by likening Umno’s ‘siege’ of Kelantan to an episode in the Quran, when the Kabah in Mecca was threatened with destruction by a foreign enemy.

Just as the Ashabul Fil were ‘jealous’ of Mecca’s success in attracting religious pilgrims to its temple of worship, Umno is also itching to take over Kelantan to reap its untapped economic potential for its own gain, said Nik Aziz.

However, just as the chieftain of Mecca at the time could not dream of winning over his much larger and better equipped foreign foe, Nik Aziz said Kelantanese have only God to invoke to “defend the leadership of the ulama in Kelantan”.

“They fight us with (their) radio programmes, yet they do not give us a permit for (for a radio station). They fight us with television (programmes), yet they do not give us permits for television stations. They fight us with money, (but) we don’t have money,” he said.

“Oh my Lord, I am incapable of defending Your religion in Kelantan, because they are attacking the leadership there in all sorts of ways. We ask that You defend your religion in Kelantan as You defended the Kabah against the Ashabul Fil!”.

‘Stay out of Kelantan’

Earlier, Kok Lanas state assembly candidate Ahmad Rosli Ibrahim (left) raised fury and indignation over the ambition of Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin to take over Kelantan.

“We will rise and meet the challenge put forth by Khairy. He does not know what we Kelantanese are capable of when challenged!” said Rosli to a roar of parochial approval and applause.

Fanning their (f)ire was, no doubt, the unpalatable fact that Abdullah is from Penang and Khairy, from Negri Sembilan. Every mention of Khairy’s name was greeted with anticipation of what Rosli would reveal next about him.

Blasting BN leaders for their over-emphasis on physical and economic development, Rosli said they do not understand that Kelantanese are not as concerned with this, since “even communist countries can bring about development”.

“We have our own culture and values. I am certain that come March 8, we will all come back (to Kelantan) to defend Tok Guru Nik Aziz,” added Rosli, a one-time Kelantan Umno leader.

Party vice-president Husam Musa alluded to an internal rift in Umno, saying this is prompting its desperation to recapture Kelantan after 18 years of PAS rule.

“On the west coast, Barisan Nasional may lose a lot of seats because of a revolt that has been fomenting, a revolt that will occur after the Umno annual general meeting. If they win Kelantan, then it will be balanced,” he alleged.

The other attraction of Kelantan, said Husam, lies in the untapped oil reserves which the BN is ‘eyeing for its own benefit’.

“It is just like America (invading) Iraq for its oil. We have information that there are eight very large oil wells in Kelantan. Just one of these oil wells contain 13 trillion cubic metres of oil, Just by paying five percent oil royalty... the royalty for the next seven generations of Kelantanese would amount to RM121 trillion,” he said.

“I call on all Anak Kelantan to come back to defend this government, this state, this Islamic leadership in our state, which is a bastion not just for Kelantanese to seek shelter but for all Malaysians to put their hopes... an alternative to Barisan Nasional!”

Those interviewed after the event - a noisy, gung-ho affair - said they intend to return to Kelantan to vote, but PAS will not just rely on the ‘diaspora’ to keep the state out of the clutches of rival parties.

Party leaders will contest in 40 of the 45 state seats, already winning one uncontested on nomination day. Opposition ally PKR will field candidates in five seats, while BN will contest in 44 seats.

(Photos 2,3 & 5 courtesy of minaq_jinggo)