K KANGSAR POLLS Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is not surprised by the remarks of former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin, saying it reveals that the latter has not changed.

However, he hoped that the Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) leader would repent, and his repentance would be accepted by Allah.

He was responding to Nizar’s claim that the Kuala Kangsar by-election is divine retribution over the toppling of the Perak government in 2013.

"I am not surprised that these words came out of his mouth. It shows he has not changed and has not repented despite what happened to him.

"I am grateful he said this (as it exposed his true colours). I hope his immediate repentance will be accepted by Allah," he told reporters after meeting voters in Kuala Kangsar.

The former menteri besar alleged that the by-election was to teach Zahid and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak a lesson for their role in the crisis, which saw BN taking over the state government.

The Perak government fell after four opposition representatives defected to BN.

The Kuala Kangsar by-election was called following the death of incumbent Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash on May 5.

The crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak, also killed incumbent Sungai Besar MP Noriah Kasnon, and four others.

However, Nizar saw the crash as a sign from Allah.

"Why were (seats) from Malacca, Kedah, Negri Sembilan or Johor not chosen, why choose Kuala Kangsar, the royal town.

"When I thought about it deeply, I realised this is the place where I was given the trust to be the Perak menteri besar from March 2008 to February 2009.

"This is the place where those two beings came and seized the government which I led. Who were those two beings? None other than Najib and Zahid," he told a political rally last night.

Nizar is campaigning for Amanah candidate Ahmad Termizi Rosli whereas BN has fielded Wan Mohammad’s widow Mastura Mohd Yazid.

Also in the contest is PAS' Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.