ALOR STAR – DAP today claimed the PAS-led state government deliberately confused voters to hide their weaknesses and poor governance.
State DAP chairman Tan Kok Yew (Derga-DAP) said PAS leaders in the state played on sentiments and emotions to distract the people from the realities in Kedah, which often resulted in negative consequences.
“Such acts sometimes even caused Kedahans to hate each other. There is now mistrust and there is a state of uneasiness in the state,” said Tan when debating Sultan Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah’s royal address.
He was addressing an assembly which is sitting for the last session before its 14th legislative terms ends, paving the way for a state election, likely by July this year.
Citing an example, Tan chided the state for not having a clear cut plan to tackle upstream floods in Baling and Yan, which caused untold destruction last year.
“Should we emulate Kelantan which allowed logging in Gua Musang to an extent that each time it rains heavily, a majority of the state is inundated with floods.”
Tan also urged Kedah to respect the gifts left by the Almighty, which is for the state to be populated by people of diverse backgrounds and races.
“We should respect our diversity as a gift and work together for mutual benefit.
“There is no longer a need to prolong the polemic of race and religion.”
The leaders should accept that pluralism and multi-racial demographics do exist and move on by ensuring that the state is governed effectively and fairly.
Tan also referred to the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority’s report last year, where the top five investment recipients were Johor (RM60.6 billion), Selangor (RM60.1 billion), Sarawak (RM28.2 billion), Kuala Lumpur (RM25 billion) and Penang (RM16.3 billion).
“We do not see Kedah in the top five list of states. Is something wrong?”
Tan also pursued an update on all the mega projects which Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor (Jeneri-PAS) had announced previously.
He also touched on the spat between Penang and Kedah, citing that Sanusi went overboard when he questioned the sovereignty of a neighbouring state.
“Penang shares equal rights with Kedah under the Federation’s terms.”
If there is a need to raise the question on whether Penang is part of Kedah, then why doesn’t the state pursue the many provinces in southern Thailand, which had once belonged to the state until the British took them up and surrendered some to the Kingdom of Siam in the 1909 agreement.
“What benefit does this do for Kedah in the first place,” asked Tan.
Tan urged for a change in the style of politics to one which debates on facts and figures instead of just emotions, as the people deserve good administrators. – The Vibes, March 13, 2023.
