Concerned about the absenteeism influenza, Islamic-based party PAS has placed all its Kelantan state assemblypersons under 'quarantine'.

The 23 representatives have been instructed to stay in Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's official residence during the two-day state assembly sitting, which began today.

This is the first sitting since the crucial Dec 6 Pengkalan Pasir by-election , which saw PAS' majority in the state reduced to a single seat over Barisan Nasional.

The opposition party has been ruling Kelantan since 1990.

When contacted, state executive councillor Takiyuddin Hassan said the 'quarantine' was enforced to ensure that all the party's state representatives attend the sitting.

"This is not the first time. We have done it before but not every time," he added.

The previous reported quarantine was during the vote-counting process for the 2004 general election. That night, the party had herded all its representatives into the state PAS headquarters until the official tally was announced to prevent them from being 'bought over'.

Two crucial bills

Takiyuddin said the full attendance of PAS representatives was crucial this time around to ensure that two important bills are passed by tomorrow.

These are the new town corporation bill and the people's estate corporation bill, which PAS expects the opposition to object.

The 'people's estate corporation' bill will see the issuance of shares instead of land to the people to manage an estate while the other bill calls for the setting-up of a body to manage the township.

He said the state assemblypersons must stay under one roof in order to attend a pre-council meeting chaired by Deputy Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaacob.

Takiyuddin stressed that the quarantine was not enforced to prevent any party leaders from crossing over to BN.

Kelantan state assembly speaker Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah had reportedly said that problems could arise if a PAS representative was absent and BN representatives turned up in full force during voting.

However, he said deputy speaker Nasurruddin Daud, who is also a PAS state assemblyperson, could cast the decisive vote in the event of a tie.