Former federal minister Zaid Ibrahim has acknowledged the preference of the Malays to be identified from the various states that they come from.

“They (the Malays) are not really proud to be called Malaysians but prefer to be called a Johorean, a Perakian and others,” said Zaid in a blog post today.

The Kelantanese, he said, are particularly proud of their dialect and culture. But what sets them apart from others are their willingness to go against the political tide to defend their stand and views.

Zaid pointed out how the Kelantanese had voted for PAS in the past 25 years as they were not willing to be “bullied” by Umno.

Despite PAS’ inability to solve problems involving the state’s economy, the Kelantanese had persevered with the late former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (photo).

But following his demise, Zaid said, PAS was no longer a useful party for the Kelantanese.

“The Kelantanese no longer have a leader who fights for something noble. What's worse is there are no technocrats who can solve problems faced by the rakyat.

“They don't know how to solve the problem involving floods and so they tried to build a flood memorial monument. They don't know how to develop the state and so they sell logs to Chinese towkay.

“They are, in actuality, a useless party,” Zaid added, without mincing his words.

Zaid, therefore, believes that the Kelantanese will rise up again to fight against the tide.

“I believe they will support the leadership of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) under (former PAS leader) Husam Musa and the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leadership to replace current PAS leaders,” he said.

PAS, he added, would only continue to talk and pronounce edicts, but what the Kelantanese really need are political leaders who can solve their economic and social woes.

“The Kelantanese have long voted for PAS because of Nik Abdul Aziz, not because they love the current leaders,” he pointed out.

Zaid then urged supporters of PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (photo, above right) to join Amanah as the leader would not be able to remain in PAS for long.

“PAS, as a useless party, will try to purge leaders who want to work together with the opposition; people like Tuan Ibrahim won't be safe.”

“In the end, all those left in PAS will be (PAS president Abdul) Hadi Awang, (PAS Youth chief) Nik Mohamad Abduh (Nik Abdul Aziz), (Kelantan deputy menteri besar) Mohd Amar (Nik Abdullah) and its spiritual leader (Haron Din),” he said.

Zaid’s remarks concerning the country’s different states comes after Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim criticised Putrajaya's "1Malaysia" slogan, questioning whether it really promotes unity as claimed.

The crown prince had then mooted 'Bangsa Johor' schools.

"I hope in the near future... the Johor government will introduce an education module for Johoreans. We'll make Bangsa Johor,” Tunku Ismail said earlier this week.