KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 – Kedah DAP has applied more pressure on the PAS-led state government in a move that seems to be fueled by the public backing of DAP supremos.
Its sole state assemblyman Lee Guan Aik made clear today that he will no longer support the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition government under Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak after one-and-a-half years of broken promises to non-Muslim Kedahans.
Kedah DAP had pulled out of the state government after the only pig abbatoir in the state was demolished two days ago.
Both party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and his father Lim Kit Siang, who is DAP parliamentary leader, blame the state government for leaving Kedah DAP no choice but to quit the coalition on principle.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, Lee contended that in Kelantan, where PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is mentri besar, non-Muslim rights were better protected even though the state had a higher proportion of Malay Muslims.
“Pork sales are still not permitted in the main wet market but it is sold in Kelantan. Building plans for the Buddhist association here have also not been approved after one-and-a-half years whereas in Kelantan non-Muslim places of worship are encouraged.
“Azizan’s governance is not in line with Tok Guru’s,” the Kota Darul Aman assemblyman said.
While acknowledging that the illegal pig abattoir has been a problem for decades since Barisan Nasional (BN) were in charge, he said that the people voted for a new government “because they want to see a change for the better.”
Kedah DAP has claimed that six sites had been suggested for a relocation but all were shot down while Azizan insists that a site in Pendang near a Chinese village had already been earmarked.
There has been talk that the Siamese community in the area are not pleased with the site chosen but Lee claims it is only “hearsay evidence” and expressed suspicion that it was a sentiment that has been engineered.
Critics say that Azizan has been too focused on pleasing the Malay Muslim grassroots and Kedah has not taken great strides under his leadership. Others, however, believe the current crisis in Kedah is due to a severe breakdown in communication.
One of the most controversial decisions of his administration was last year’s 50 per cent housing quota for Bumiputeras.
But reporters say that his announcement was misreported and that it had always been meant as a quota for Malay reserve land only, which ironically means it opens up the land for non-Bumiputeras.
Lee today also said that the 28 butchers at the abattoir “were made to believe that the government was looking for a new site.”
However, PKR Kedah chief Ahmad Kassim said that while the mentri besar promised to facilitate the application process for the new site, the operator had only submitted his application last week.
His deputy Tan Show Kang also pointed out that the operator has also been asked to relocate by the BN state government more than 10 years ago but this was not executed.
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Slowly PAS has shown their true color, Ketuanan Islam is in the rise.
Tok Guru, do something or else too late.
Seems like the talk with UMNO has infected some of PAS members, sapa tak maju skim cepat kaya?