The Islamist-secular battle between PAS and Umno took another twist today, with a senior PAS leader saying that voters om Kerdau voters do not need a religious scholar to represent them.

azlan PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Kerdau's immediate concerns need the eye of a professional, and not a graduate in Islamic studies.

"In our view, Kerdau's needs are not for (a candidate trained in Islamic) religion. Kerdau needs a professional candidate," he said at the party’s daily press conference today.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is Kerdau by-election direction and a religious leader, was responding to a recent attack on PAS by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who said PAS did not field Tuan Ibrahim as it was shielding him from a possible loss.

BN candidate Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad is a graduate of the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Egypt, while PAS' candidate is career quantity surveyor Hassanuddin Salim.

Pahang bankrupt?

Tuan Ibrahim went on to attack Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, for being irresponsible in claiming there are no issues to raise during the by-election.

adnan mb pahang Adnan (left) should instead tell the people about BN’s "excellent decisions" to resolve Kerdau's problems, he said, especially those raised in the auditor-general's annual report last year.

Tuan Ibrahim highlighted the Pahang government's loss of RM227.9 million in revenue due to the failure of four government-linked companies (GLCs) to repay their state loans.

"In a situation where these GLCs are facing losses, the menteri besar still anticipates 50 percent of their profits to go to the state government,” he said.

"This is clearly one of the reasons why economic experts believe that Pahang has the potential to go bankrupt.

Pahang has recorded a deficit budget for 13 years, with debts totalling RM2.17 billion, noted Tuan Ibrahim.

He challenged the state government to live up to its responsibilities and explain to the rakyat the steps it intends to take to manage the issues raised in the auditor-general's report.