He said people had learned a lesson from what happened in the 2008 general election when Barisan Nasional (BN) named former Bachok MP Awang Adek Hussin as its menteri besar-designate.
“His picture and banners promoting him as the candidate were put up all over the state, but he and BN were defeated and their aspiration was not realised. It has become a kind of spectre among parties here.
“That was the last time a political party named its menteri besar before a general election. It taught many people not to be too eager in talking about such things,” he told FMT.
At a DAP-organised event in Kota Bharu yesterday, veteran party leader Lim Kit Siang proposed that Amanah vice-president Husam Musa be made Kelantan menteri besar if Pakatan Harapan wins the state in the next general election.
Lim said Husam was capable of being a model leader not only in Kelantan but also the whole country like Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was when he administered the state.
Wan Rahim said the proposal was Kit Siang’s personal opinion, adding that it would have little impact on the local political situation and Pakatan Harapan in Kelantan.
“DAP is a minor partner in Kelantan. Furthermore, discussions within Pakatan Harapan have not reached this level (of naming a menteri besar candidate),” he said.
He also recalled Husam’s own statement when he was still with PAS that he hoped Nik Abdul Aziz’s son, Nik Omar, would take over his father’s position after the 14th general election.
Wan Rahim said this matter was reiterated by Husam at a ceramah in Kota Bharu last November after he joined Amanah, and he even suggested that his party would not field a candidate to oppose Nik Omar should he contest a seat under PAS’ banner.
“We don’t stop anyone from giving his personal views. Perhaps Kit Siang was over-excited by the political atmosphere in Kelantan when he made his proposal,” he added.