Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has brushed off allegation that Umno was conspiring with Amanah to topple PAS in Kelantan.

Tengku Adnan told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today that Umno and BN was not interested with matters concerning any opposition parties.

"This is not correct, we only take care of our own party. We do not interfere in other parties.

"Be it Amanah, PAS, Bersatu or DAP, what Umno and BN (is interested in is to) continue to take care is the people's interest," he said.

He was responding to claims by PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah that what happened to Kelantan in 1978 might repeat itself.

At the time, Umno had teamed up with Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah SeMalaysia (Berjasa) - a splinter group led by Muhamad Nasir - and won the 1978 elections.

This marked the first time PAS had lost power in Kelantan. BN remained in power until 1991, where Kelantan PAS, under the helm of Nik Aziz Nik Mat, managed to wrest control of the state.

According to Harakah Daily, Mohd Amar said a similar scenario might happen now as Amanah, which mostly comprise of former PAS leaders, might affect seats which PAS won with thin margins.

He said Kelantan PAS cannot rule out the possibility that Umno might sponsor Amanah candidates to frustrate PAS in such seats.

Dataran Merdeka is a no-go

In another development, Tengku Adnan said Dataran Merdeka was off-limits to both opposition and the government supporters for rallies.

"We have decided that no rally will be held at Dataran Merdeka regardless of whether they are from the government, PAS or any other opposition party. We will not allow them to gather at Dataran Merdeka and this is our decision," he said.

He, however said the Federal Territories Ministry would allow PAS to hold its Feb 18 rally to promote the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act at the Titiwangsa Stadium.

PAS planned to mobilise 300,000 for the rally, a month before the amendment bill is debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

The bill was brought by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who is seeking to increase the cap on punishments which the Syariah courts could hand out.

The current cap limits punishment to maximum RM5,000 fine, five-year prison term and six lashes. Abdul Hadi is proposing a new cap of RM100,000 fine, 30-year prison term and 100 lashes.