KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Kelantan needs government leaders who can address immediate concerns with social and economic problems rather those who dabble in “imaginary” issues on religion, said former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

In a blog post on the Chempaka by-election that kicks off today, Zaid took aim at the ulama or clergy faction in PAS for its preoccupation with religious matters including enforcing hudud Islamic penal law in the Kelantan.

“What the people need is a good and honest government. The rakyat wants leaders who know how to govern,” Zaid wrote.

According to him, matters that were more relevant to voters included access to potable water, adequate housing, proper sanitation and irrigation as well as a concerted effort to tackle the state’s drug addiction menace.

Immediate attention was also needed to rebuild parts of the state such as Gua Musang that were hit by the worst flooding in decades, he added

The former law minister during the Abdullah administration said elections should not be venues for the community to elect someone to lead them in prayers, saying that the abundant mosques and state religious department were capable of performing the role.

“We in Kelantan must elect a leader who can administer the state and who can deal with the real problems of the people – not imaginary ones,” he added.

He also warned the ulama in PAS against believing that Kelantan natives were keen on the implementation of hudud in the state, saying that their insistent push for the Islamic penal law indicated that they misunderstood the wishes of the state’s residents.

PAS in Kelantan regularly asserts that the continued electoral support that has allowed it to govern the state since 1990 was evidence that the voters were in agreement with its plan to enforce hudud.

“If they think that by introducing hudud they can somehow recover their identity and legitimacy, then they certainly do not understand the Kelantanese. We do not want hudud because we are a hard-working people and need all our limbs intact!” Zaid added.

The Kelantan state government reportedly plans to table amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II 1993 at the state legislative assembly on March 18.

PAS is also expected to table two private members’ bills in Parliament this month, which were aimed at removing constitutional obstacles currently preventing it from enforcing the Islamic penal code.

The Chempaka state seat fell vacant after incumbent Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who was also PAS’s spiritual adviser, died from prostate cancer on February 12.

The Election Commission has set nominations for today and polling on March 22.