BUKIT MERTAJAM – In a barb at DAP, PAS leader and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has likened the party to Umno, saying the duo can now get along in the national unity federal government because both are apparently corrupt.
Speaking at a Perikatan Nasonal (PN) rally in Kubang Semang, Permatang Pauh near here, Sanusi stressed that he was speaking in his capacity as the PN elections director and claimed that there are instances to show that DAP is allegedly corrupt.
Referring to Penang’s proposed cross-channel undersea tunnel, Sanusi claimed that until today no construction has been done but up to RM300 million has been spent for a feasibility study where money had allegedly exchanged hands.
“Where is the tunnel? I think it is in (DAP chairman Lim) Guan Eng’s house. It has not been brought out to sea,” he quipped.
“If you ask me, DAP can now get along with Umno because both are corrupt.”
‘Show me DAP’s legacy in Penang and I’ll give you RM10’
He said that Gerakan, a fellow component of PN along with PAS and Bersatu, had ruled over Penang for 39 years whereas DAP has only led the state as the dominant party for 15 years.
“But what is the development pace under DAP? What is one monument or one project which has really benefited the people? Show me and I will give you RM10.”
Both Penang and Kedah are on the brink of state elections due within the next couple of months.
Sanusi, who is Jeneri assemblyman, said that the majority of the big infrastructure projects were done during the Gerakan era, in comparison to what DAP has achieved.
What DAP has, however, committed is seeing property prices skyrocket to millions of ringgit until the poor and average earning Penangites, especially in Seberang Prai, have had to flock to neighbouring Padang Serai, Kulim and Sg Petani in Kedah to be able to afford in decent accommodation.
“It is not that they dislike Penang, but they have no choice. And where are those towns located?” Sanusi asked, to which the crowd replied “Kedah”.
Now, PN is offering itself as an alternative to the DAP-led Penang Pakatan Harapan leadership, whereby both the poor and rich can co-exist in the state, he said.
On new condominiums on the rise here, Sanusi said he is confident that only foreigners such as those from Hong Kong would purchase their units.
‘No threat to co-existence under Perikatan here’
Sanusi also gave an assurance that if PN rules in Penang, nobody will be asked to give up their way of life or religion.
“I can assure you that Buddhists, Christians and Muslims can all practise their faiths.
“It is similar to Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu,” said Sanusi.
He said that he is aware of the sentiments in Penang, saying that voters in the past supported DAP not because they adored the party, but because there was no choice due to what he said was Barisan Nasional’s corrupt nature.
Now, PN is offering an alternative, and Sanusi is confident that voters here would gravitate to the alternative coalition.
He also declared that no entity in Kedah will sell any sand or limestone to the project delivery partner of the Penang South Island reclamation project, citing that the project has the capacity to ruin the state’s ecology.
Penang-Kedah relations: British colonialism responsible for historical revisionism
Sanusi also defended his assertion that Penang belongs to Kedah historically.
He blamed the colonial British powers for distorting the history of Malaya so they could hide the fact that they plundered wealth and natural resources such as tin from the peninsula to bring to Britain.
“The history of Malaya was written and authored by the British to hide their colonisation process where they had abused their role as colonists,” said Sanusi.
He said that world history has shown that many countries were not in existence until the colonial powers engaged in annexation.
“And some historical narratives were distorted to suit the colonial interests including Malaya.
“But after independence, Malay historians counter-checked the facts and found many misleading accounts, especially over the Penang-Kedah relations.”
Umno president and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has criticised Sanusi’s claims on Penang, calling his remarks an act of incitement.
He said the statement showed that the menteri besar has poor knowledge and understanding of history and the federal constitution. – The Vibes, June 4, 2023
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