Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysia Insider
Less than 12 hours before polling begins in this rural constituency, Barisan Nasional (BN) put up banners showing picture of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat shaking hands with Lee Kuan Yew in an attempt to drive the Malay voters away from the Kelantan Mentri Besar.
The banners showing pictures from the Singapore Minister Mentor’s recent visit to the state were only put up yesterday evening.
It also carries a message in the Kelantanese dialect criticising Nik Aziz for preferring to listen to Lee but not Umno.
“Why does he like him, but refuse to listen to Umno,” reads the message referring to the PAS spiritual adviser meeting with Lee and Nik Aziz continuous rejection to attempts to work closer with Umno.
Nik Aziz has been the strongest critic of the unity government proposal which resulted in attacks from Umno leaders who have been promoting Malay unity.
Another banner ridiculing PAS’s close relationship with DAP was also seen around the Manek Urai constituency where more than 90 per cent of some 12,000 voters are Malays.
According to the information at the bottom of the banner, it was published by the Kelantan BN headquarters.
The Singapore founding father visited Kelantan early last month as part of his one week working visit to Malaysia.
In his meeting with Nik Aziz, Lee reportedly asked the former how PAS would treat its neighbours in particular Singapore if the Islamist party takes over the government.
While Nik Aziz was reported as praising Singapore’s success in eradicating corruption in the city state, describing the move as Islamic.
During his visit Lee also met with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, to whom he directed about PAS’s foreign policy.