THE drains in front of Zanuri Ariffin’s restaurant in Bachok overflow when it rains heavily, and the stench annoys his customers.

And despite his shop being on the main road from Bachok district to Kota Baru, he has to drive 1km to properly dump his kitchen waste.

“These things should be basic, simple services that the local council provides. But in Kelantan, they’re missing,” said Zanuri, a Bachok resident who once lived in Putrajaya.

Poor rubbish disposal, clogged municipal drains and water supply problems were common complaints that The Malaysian Insight found in a straw poll among Kelantanese.

Although they appear mundane, the PAS Kelantan government’s repeated failure to address these issues through the local councils it controls will result in its downfall in the 14th general election (GE14).

More than two-thirds of the 21 residents from five districts interviewed for this poll said the people they knew want a change in the state government.  

But who they wanted to take over the administration of the state was still unclear with many saying they would decide closer to the date of the election.

Besides the poor council services, they bemoan Kelantan’s lack of development, which makes it hard to generate good-paying jobs. Many Kelantanese are forced to go to the Klang valley, Johor and Penang to work.

According to state Amanah leader Wan Johari Wan Omar, almost 40% of Kelantan’s voters live and work outside the state. And it is they who actually hold the key.

Those who live and work in Kelantan may want a government that can provide efficient local council services, more jobs and better infrastructure.

But it is their family members and friends who work outside and who enjoy all those comforts that PAS has not been able to provide, who may be the Islamist party’s saviours.    

Change 

The straw poll involved 21 male and female voters from Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Kota Baru, Tumpat and Pasir Mas, aged between 23 and 67.  

They were asked about what was the most pressing problem in their area and whether they were satisfied with the state government’s administration of Kelantan.

Each respondent was also asked whether they or the people they knew wanted to change or maintain the current state government.

PAS has ruled Kelantan for the past 28 years. It currently holds 32 seats in the 45-seat state assembly.

In GE14, the Islamist party will face two coalitions, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in its bid to retain Kelantan.

A study by Institut Darul Ehsan said PAS would lose Kelantan in GE14 if it is involved in multi-party fights. The study said PAS would win only 15 state seats in such a scenario.

In The Malaysian Insight’s straw poll, 15 of 21 respondents said they were dissatisfied with the Kelantan government. Four said they were satisfied and two were unsure. 

Of the 21, 13 said either they or their families members and friends wanted to change the state government. Five said they were unsure and only three wanted to maintain the same state government. 

Poultry seller Hashidah Jusoh for instance, is angry at the state government for attempting to force her and her fellow traders at the old Pasir Puteh market to move.

“They promised us the same business space. But when we looked at the new place, our stalls were smaller but charged us higher,” said the 45-year-old when met in Pasir Puteh.  

“That’s why we want to change. We hope that Umno and BN can help solve this issue. PAS is Islam in name only.”

In Kota Baru, Mohd Syukri Mohd Zain, said he wanted a change as the current administration had no policies that were pro-youth.

“We want to see Kelantan develop. As a young adult, I want to see the development that I see in other states.”

Maintain

Those who defended the Kelantan government did so because of a combination of PAS’ Islamist credentials and sympathy towards the state government.

Azman Muhamad for instance, lives in Johor, where he works as a quality inspector.

“I think that the state government has done much for Kelantan with what little money they have. Kota Baru’s development has been impressive. I think we should maintain the current government,” said the 45-year-old.   

Banker Zaiton Azhari, is sympathetic towards the state government for not getting enough help from Putrajaya.

“I think they can do so much more if they were given enough funds. I hear that many want to defend the state government,” said the Kota Baru resident.  

Trader Azizah Mohamad of Tumpat believes that there is nothing wrong with Kelantan and its government.

“I love living in Kelantan. Those living outside don’t see this. But we are doing fine. If I were to choose a party, the leaders are important and the most important criteria is their religion. We want to choose Islam.”

Pasir Puteh Umno division grassroots leader Mat Yali Hussin acknowledged that there was a strong wave of disaffection towards the state government.

Mat Yali said this wave started in 2015, when many of PAS’ most influential and popular leaders and members left to form Amanah – a PH component party.   

“In the past, the PAS village head and I could always work things out and solve our problems,” said Mat Yali, who is leader in the Kampung Batu Hitam Umno branch in the Pasir Puteh district.

Mat Yali is a village head appointed by the federal government, known by the Bahasa Malaysia acronym of JKKKP while Kelantan PAS maintains its own village chief known as JKKK.

“But after they broke up, the PAS village committee has been inconsistent. They tend to prioritise helping their own members as opposed to us. We help everyone regardless of party.”    

However, Mat Yali is cautious when asked whether the dislike of the state government was strong enough to lead to its defeat in the election.

“For instance, in my village Umno and PAS are still 50-50. Whether or not the state will fall will depend on outstation voters.” – January 28, 2018.