ALOR STAR, 1 July 2009: After the conflict between the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Penang, the Pakatan Rakyat government may be facing yet another challenge in Kedah.
Kedah DAP chairperson Thomas Su Keong Siong has threatened that the party no longer found it necessary to be in the Pakatan Rakyat government in the state as many decisions made by the state government did not take heed of the other component parties.
He said the latest case involving the demolition of a pig abattoir by the Alor Star Municipal Council showed the weakness of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak in resolving problems.
He said the abattoir operator had appealed to the state government for time to shut down, but the appeal was not entertained.
“The state government should have settled the problem wisely, taking into account the interests of the Tiong Hwa community in the area as all they wanted was some time to get a more appropriate site. But the council demolished the abattoir,” Su told reporters here today.
A team of council enforcers demolished the abattoir in Taman Berjaya following complaints from residents of a nearby housing area.
Su also cited the earlier 50% bumiputera quota for housing policy, imposed by Azizan, that did not take into account the views of component parties.
He said these issues had been discussed in a special party meeting recently, adding that the DAP would not hesitate to leave the coalition.
Su expressed disappointment with the PAS-led state government, charging that it was not capable of resolving various problems of the people. — Bernama
David Anthony says
Religion and state administration cannot mix.
jo says
Lol, maybe this is just the beginning of a new crisis within the PR.
Kamal says
I wonder if having an abattoir near a residential area is a healthy thing? And whether it was licensed?
But that aside, did PR think that winning the elections (in some states) would automatically iron out their differences? Maybe it is about time they wake up and realise that the people have given them a mandate and they need to work it out and not walk out. Respecting public representation should mean working to solve the problem. Walking out and being an “opposition” doesn’t free the elected representatives from finding and thrashing out common solutions.
PAS manifesto is as clear as daylight. If at the end of it, you cannot agree to work with it, why go into partnership in the first place? But if you don’t work with them, does each individual party have enough support to govern a state? Why can’t the “opposition” government realise that change is going to require hard work, and getting into each others way until there is consensus. Respect is not given; unfortunately it has to be earned. So PAS, PKR and DAP need each other in different states if they want to be an effective respose to BN. And to be fair to those who elected them. Iron out the difference, agree that Malaysians want many things, find a way to agree to disagree before jumping ahead saying we want a two-party system. Wanting something does not automatically mean it will be produced, sometimes, we have to work at achieving our dreams. Do we have a two-party system? In my opinion, not by a long shot. What we appear to have is a multi-party system which represents the multitude of interests of a diverse population. And I think that this is ok. What we have in common; we hold the same passport and we love and cherish the land that has given us a home and subsistence. It is alright that we are otherwise diversed! That is our wealth. In such diversity (and I am not referring to the presumed ethnic differences), there will naturally be disagreements but we shouldn’t walk away.