'Mind your words': PAS veep warns Zahid after remarks on Kelantan

Summary:

• PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad chides Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after the latter reportedly said Kelantan would be "even further behind in development" without federal government funding.

• Zahid made the remark to refute a PAS leader’s claims that Kelantan's development has been deliberately blocked and marginalised by the federal government.

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PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad today issued a veiled warning to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, after the latter reportedly said that Kelantan would be lagging in development without federal funding.

Idris also took a swipe at Zahid, asking whether he needs a map to distinguish between Kelantan and Kalimantan, or if he requires "additional classes on the Federal Constitution", whilst reminding him that Kelantan is part of Malaysia, and its people pay taxes to the federal government like everyone else.

"Kelantan is a sovereign state within Malaysia, not a colony of any political party. Better to mind one's language before the people teach the meaning of respect again through the ballot box,” he said on Facebook today.

Earlier today, Sinar Harian reported Zahid refuting claims made by a PAS leader that Kelantan's development has been blocked and marginalised for so long.

"If there were no allocations from the federal government, I think Kelantan would be even further behind in terms of development," the Bagan Datuk MP said after officiating the Tanah Merah Umno division representatives meeting.

Zahid reportedly said that every time there are major floods in Kelantan, the federal government steps in to help.

"So, I hope he (PAS leadership) obtains detailed information from their leadership.

"Don't try to reverse the facts and poison the people's minds with incorrect information," he said.

Sinar Harian reported Zahid saying this in response to claims by PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah, who said in a Facebook post on Thursday, that Kelantan is the only state without highways like other states.

He also reportedly claimed that some development projects that should be enjoyed by the people of Kelantan have been withheld and delayed by the federal government, for reasons that were never fairly explained.

‘Infuriating remarks’

Unimpressed, Idris said it is also "infuriating" to hear distasteful comments that "appear to want to marginalise Kelantan."

"Goodness knows... sometimes we're not even certain whether it's Malaysia's deputy prime minister or Kalimantan's deputy prime minister speaking. Kelantan is a state within Malaysia, not a foreign state.

“Its people pay taxes just like everyone else - road tax, income tax, business tax, SST (sales and services tax), and even international passport fees to the federal government.

"Road Traffic Department (RTD) summonses and police fines are also collected by the federal government. The state only handles land tax, water, forestry, and a bit of local council tax.

“Kelantan folk aren't the type who like to cause trouble but they won't stand being insulted. If he's (Zahid) not careful, even Umno supporters might feel slighted," Idris said.

"Perhaps he misspoke. Because lately he's been making rather frequent slips of the tongue and lapses. Previously, he said ‘long live Israel’. Just recently, he erred by saying even angels flee at night," he added, referencing Zahid's previous Freudian slips.

Idris was referring to Zahid’s previous gaffe in chanting "long live Israel" during his speech at the Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin rally held in Bukit Jalil last year, for which he had apologised.

On July 8, Zahid apologised for his choice of words in a recent analogy involving angels, made in the context of the pressure he faces in his role as Umno president.

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