A Muslim leader or government does not guarantee development, stressed Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during a function in Pendang, Kedah, today.

The deputy premier said he visited two countries that were rich with natural resources run by Muslim leaders but they were not as developed as Malaysia.

"They have diamonds, forests and rivers but their citizens are poor. There is lack of development because there is political unrest. There is no end to their fighting.

"It is not that I want to criticise these countries but we can learn from them," he said.

Abdullah was speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the new Majlis Daerah Pendang building here.

Pendang and neighbouring Anak Bukit former strongholds of the Muslim-based party PAS are gearing up for this Thursday's by-elections.

The seats fell vacant following the death of PAS president Fadzil Noor last month.

Meanwhile, Abdullah said leaders in the Muslim countries which he had visited did not have the capabilities to develop.

"They have no ability because they have no ideas. At the end of the day, the country is not developed," he said.

Rich country

Abdullah, who will become prime minister after Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down next October, also told the 200-odd crowd that Malaysia is a rich country.

"If we are not rich, why would anyone want to come here and seek their fortunes. If we are poor, nobody wants to come here...Malaysia can take care of them," he said.

He also expressed surprise over the opposition's claim that the government failed to bring development to the people, especially to Felda settlers in Sungai Tiang here.

"How can they say this? They are quite knowledgeable. Can't they see what is happening here?" he asked.

Abdullah said he would refrain from using "harsh" words against those who slander the government and urged the people to vote for Barisan Nasional.

The Pendang parliamentary and Anak Bukit state assembly seats belonged to Barisan Nasional until PAS wrested it away in the 1999 general election.