KUALA LUMPUR: Muafakat Nasional chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa may be suffering from political separation sickness.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Annuar's statement about two projects in Sungai Bakap , Penang showed that the latter felt that way.
"I think he (Annuar) is 'gila talak' ( suffering from political separation sickness).
"These (projects) are not a recommendation. It is not a promise because if one had looked carefully at my speech last night, I proposed for an Tamil vernacular school project which had cancelled. It should be revived because there is an allocation for it, but it was channeled elsewhere.
"It is only reasonable for Nibong Tebal residents, especially for the children of the Indian community in Sungai Bakap to obtai their education from this Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan India (SJKT).
"Secondly, I (touched upon ) the Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE). All districts have this facility, but the centre should be set up in the Seberang Prai Selatan district, particularly in Sungai Bakap," said Zahid after launching the Mara Educators Awards Day here today.
Also present were Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Mara director-general Datuk Seri Azhar Manaf.
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Last night, Zahid had vowed to bring more development to Sungai Bakap if Pakatan Harapan's candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin wins in the by-election ton Saturday.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, had also proposed the immediate setting up of an activity centre for senior citizens, saying that there was none in Seberang Prai.
He had also proposed for the construction of the long-awaited Tamil school in Sungai Bakap.
Annuar responded to Zahid's statement by saying that these were threats to the voters of Sungai Bakap. Annuar had also said that what Zahid had said had demeaned the voters apparentlt because the latter allegedly insinuated that that those projects will not materialise if PH lost in the by-election.
On a separate issue, Zahid said he had consulted with Gua Musang Umno chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah on the matter of the Nenggiri by-election candidate.
"The procedures will be carried out in Gua Musang. Even though the shortlist (of candidates) has reached my hands, but tradition of the Gua Musang Umno division dictates that they will table a name and discuss it among the divisional committee members. They will then vote for a (candidate's) name who possesses the WALI elements of being a winnable, acceptable and likeable candidate.
"The candidate will be a local," said Zahid, adding that the candidate will be announced before the nomination for the Nenggiri by-election.
The Kelantan state assembly had declared the Nenggiri state seat vacant on June 19 after it received a written notice under Phase Three of Article 31(A) of the state constitution.
The state assembly was notified by a Bersatu member on June 13 that assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim lost his Bersatu membership.