GEORGE TOWN – The opposition has no moral ground to point out the shortcomings of the present national unity government because they were formerly in power and had themselves played a role in administering the country, said Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming.
Instead, Perikatan Nasional (PN) should focus more on developing the states under its components’ watch rather than rant about the performance of the present federal government under the stewardship of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), he said.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said Nga, who is the local government development minister, at a press conference during a working visit to Penang today.
For example, PAS, a main driver of PN, has been governing Kelantan for decades, yet has failed to resolve the basic issue of water supply problems, he stressed.
“Yet they want to lecture PH when they need to get their own houses in order.”
In Kelantan, the unemployment rate is among the highest in the country, he added.
Nga said that the people want parties who can deliver, which means that actions should speak louder than words.
In a separate matter, DAP vice-president and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow urged the media to scrutinise all speculations to ensure that they are reporting on issues that have merit and are not just based on rumours.
An irate Chow took aim at media that had run speculative pieces that Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is DAP secretary-general, will contest a state seat in Penang.
“The media needs to verify the facts. On the same token, I can say that I am contesting in Seremban (Negri Sembilan). But is it true in the first place?” he told reporters last night.
Chow also said that the negotiations for seats between BN and PH, which DAP leads in Penang, are almost complete.
Penang is scheduled to dissolve its 14th state assembly sitting by June 28, after which the state will be governed by a DAP-led caretaker government.
“No major decisions will be made within this period, but what was signed and agreed upon previously can continue to be carried out,” said Chow.
He said that the state executive councillors will return their official vehicles once nominations are done and polling days come around.
It is learnt that BN was offered five out of 40 state seats to contest.
PH now holds 36 out of the 40 state seats while one is under PAS.
The three remaining seats are vacant after their reps were forced out because they had broken the state anti-party hopping legislation. – The Vibes, June 23, 2023
