In a dramatic reversal, Kelantan's state exco member Husam Musa said the ruling PAS government will not call for fresh polls if it lost a crucial by-election early next month.

His statement came two hours after the PAS leader told national news agency Bernama that the ruling party was willing to consider dissolving the state assembly should it lose the upcoming Pengkalan Pasir by-election on Dec 6.

If PAS failed to retain Pengkalan Pasir - a seat which it won by only 56 votes in the 2004 general elections - the state government will have a tissue-thin one-seat majority.

"The question of dissolving the state assembly does not arise at all and there has been some misunderstanding (regarding his earlier statement)," Husam was quoted as saying at a press conference in Kota Baru.

He added that despite the slim majority, PAS has nevertheless the mandate to rule.

Husam had earlier argued that a fresh state elections in Kelantan could prove to be disastrous for Umno and the Barisan Nasional coalition.

He added that the ruling PAS government was willing to consider dissolving the state assembly if it was defeated in next month's by-election.

The PAS leader was responding to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call to dissolve the state assembly if it loses Pengkalan Pasir.

The premier said a defeat would mean that the people have lost confidence in PAS and thus the party should seek a fresh mandate.

Following the 2001 general election, PAS secured 24 seats while BN won 21.

Clean and fair polls

As for the by-election candidate, Husam said the choice has been made and will be announced soon.

He also called on Abdullah to ensure that the polling takes place smoothly without money politics and other unhealthy practices.

He said the Elections Commission must ensure that the by-election is clean and fair

The by-election is being held following the death of its state assemblyman, Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Jaafar, 55, on Oct 31 due to liver cancer.

In the last general election, Wan Abdul Aziz who contested on a PAS ticket defeated the BN candidate, Hanafi Mamat by a slim majority of 56 votes.