Two of the most recognisable faces in Kelantan politics over the past four decades will lead their parties in the Nov 4 Galas by-election.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's political career runs parallel to that of Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
Nik Aziz first won a seat for the Kelantan Hilir parliamentary constituency in a 1967 by-election.
Two years later, Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, won the Ulu Kelantan parliamentary seat.
Nik Aziz must have been a rising star in Kelantan Pas then, although there is no report about him from that time.
With Pas later joining Barisan Nasional, Nik Aziz was made a state exco member in BN's state government, which collapsed in 1978.
Tengku Razaleigh, who was then finance minister and an Umno vice-president, was widely credited with masterminding the BN victory in the ensuing state election.
In the run-up to 1978 state election, Tengku Razaleigh, who was Kelantan BN chairman, told then NST journalist Rejal Arbee: "Don't be surprised if we pull a 1959 on Pas." He was referring to the year Pas stormed into power in Kelantan.
As it turned out, BN, and its ally, Berjasa, a Pas breakaway party, won. It was not until 12 years later that Pas reclaimed Kelantan, but many said this was because of Tengku Razaleigh.
Tengku Razaleigh had founded Parti Melayu Semangat 46 following the banning of the original Umno in 1988. Without Tengku Razaleigh, Kelantan Umno lost badly with Pas-S46 winning all 13 parliamentary and 39 state seats.
Pas and S46 jointly ruled Kelantan and even as the partnership soured, Tengku Razaleigh and Nik Aziz avoided criticising each other. S46 was dissolved in 1996 and Tengku Razaleigh returned to Umno.
Umno-BN won nearly all the seats in the 2004 general election.
With Nik Aziz, now 79, declaring that he would stay on as menteri besar, political observers will study the Pas spiritual leader's actions.
Those who are well-versed in Kelantan politics would have noticed Nik Aziz's deft handling of political issues; an observer said Nik Aziz had over the years deflected criticism away from himself, including on issues ranging from the palace to Umno.
It is not immediately known if Nik Aziz will campaign in Galas, but if development politics were to take centre stage, Pas would have to explain its agenda for development in the state.
What are the signs of progress if you were to drive around the state? Is it the agricultural boom or spurt in house buying by civil servants?
In Tengku Razaleigh, Pas will face an economic thinker. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will assist him.
In any case, the two protagonists are not expected to bump into each other in Galas.
Their nuanced descriptions of each other bring to mind silat pulut, a martial art, in which opponents seek to outwit the other by not delivering a blow.
MI
14/10/10
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