Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) believes that the Malays in Kelantan are capable of making a change in the next general election.

The party's deputy president Salahuddin Ayub was responding to Machang PAS information chief Abdul Ariffahmi Abd Rahman, who claimed that Amanah would not be able to win a single seat in the east coast state.

"Through my nearly 40 years of experience in politics, I believe the Kelantanese are the wisest people in politics.

"Kelantan Malays can make decisions at the last minute. They are not like ordinary Malays who are difficult to change," he told Malaysiakini.

Kelantan Malays, according to Salahuddin, are acting as observers of the behaviour of all parties in the state.

"If we think of using the old mindset, perhaps we would believe that PAS would remain (in power) in Kelantan.

"But based on latest developments, Amanah's presence has given a new option to Kelantanese - they have a choice to replace PAS. On that score, Amanah has a great chance in making history in Kelantan politics," he added.

Citing the 1990 general election which saw PAS taking over the state from Umno, Salahuddin said the now-defunct Umno splinter party Semangat 46 was a factor in PAS' victory.

"That's an example of how Kelantan Malays can change," he added.

Motivated by vengeance

He said Amanah's possible success, on the other hand, lies in the weaknesses of the PAS administration and the Kelantanese's rejection of Umno.

Therefore, he claimed that all Amanah had to do was send a clear message to the people of Kelantan that they were the best party to replace PAS.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin also claimed that Ariffahmi's remarks were motivated by "vengeance".

"If it is based on sentiments that we are traitors to the party (PAS), then they can say anything. But in politics, it's totally different. We have to look at the bigger picture of what's happening today.

"I'm not saying that Amanah feels it can win Kelantan. But based on current developments, we have a chance to replace PAS," he added.

Ariffahmi, who is also the son-in-law of the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik, had expressed his belief that PAS would retain control of the east coast state in the next general election.

As for outside of Kelantan, Ariffahmi said Amanah, which is a splinter of PAS, would have to depend on DAP.

Umno won't be able to take over K'tan

Meanwhile, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, in a separate conference today, expressed confidence that Umno will not be able to take over Kelantan despite concerns in relation to PAS’ administration in the state.

This, he said, is because the Kelantanese mindset is as such that it will reject Umno.

“Most of them say they are dissatisfied with PAS but even fence sitters will vote for PAS because they don’t want Umno.

“So it’s not easy for Umno to wrest Kelantan from PAS,” said Ibrahim.

Previously, Umno information chief Annuar Musa said Kelantan Umno should not be complacent despite several quarters’ claims that BN has a good chance to take over the seat in the next general election.

Kelantan Umno, Annuar had said, should prepare thoroughly to face the general election.

Veteran Umno lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, on the other hand, believes that BN, indeed, has a chance to win the state.