Kedah folk on the losing end in latest political putsch

The state capital Alor Setar with the town's landmark tower in the background. Analysts say Kedahans have grown tired of political tussles, and only want a solution to their daily economic problems. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 29, 2016.

Kedahans are no strangers to political turmoil involving two of their menteris besar in the past.

Now, faced with an impending change to the head of the state government, the people are the ones on the losing end as Umno fights an internal battle for the post.

"(The internal tussle) is making them sick, tired and bored with politics. It has created a syndrome I call the 'fatigue syndrome'," said Mohamad Hisomuddin Bakar who heads independent research outfit, Ilham Centre.

"Kedahans (have experienced) long political tussles, and now they are getting even more of it. As a result of this syndrome, I think Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to retain its power in the next general election.

"That is because people are tired of this syndrome and don't care about what happens anymore," he told The Malaysian Insider.

Hisomuddin was recently in Kedah to assess the situation, following the move by Kedah Umno leaders to get their state liaison chief Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir ousted as menteri besar (MB).

Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir was appointed menteri besar of Kedah after BN wrested the state from PAS in 2013. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 29, 2016.Mukhriz became MB after BN won Kedah back from PAS in the 2013 general election.

He is not the first MB to fall victim to political infighting.

In 1996, then Kedah MB Tan Sri Osman Aroff was replaced by Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, in a move executed by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, without the consent of Kedah assemblymen.

Mukhriz took over the state from a troubled PAS state government.

The Islamist party was embroiled in an internal tussle then, owing to bad blood between some exco members with the then MB, the late Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak.

It led to PAS, then part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, losing Kedah which it wrested from BN in the 2008 polls.

Economic struggle in the hinterland

The political tussle is only leading to the neglect of the people's interests, more so now at a time of rising living costs, Hisomuddin said.

Struggling with high living costs, people in Kedah want the state's leaders to concentrate on development and addressing bread and butter issues. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 29, 2016.People in the state known as the country's rice bowl are grappling with low commodity prices, even as they have to pay more for their basic needs.

This is apparent in the interior of Sik, where Sulaiman Ibrahim, who heads the Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chapter here, said hardcore poor families were surviving on very little food.

In the last five months, Kedah Amanah had identified 197 hardcore poor families in Sik, living with little food, said the former PAS man, a popular actor known as "Leman Raja Lawak".

"Sik is in rural Kedah where many are poor. They lack food.

"I have gone around from the Jeniri state seat to the Belantik state constituency. In every grocery store, you find the shopkeeper having a book for IOUs (I owe you). Each book is full.

"The people have no money. They are force to owe money," he said, adding that there were school children who could not pay their fees.

"There are rubber tappers who earn RM1.70 a kg for the rubber, but still have to split the meagre earnings with the owner of the small rubber estates. In a week, they get 80kg of rubber but they make only RM36.

"What can you buy with that kind of money these days? Milk for children costs RM28, and RM26 for rice. Better to buy milk than bricks to build a home," Sulaiman said.

Disruption

Kedah Umno's move to replace Mukhriz is also disrupting plans by the state government, said Padang Sera Umno leader Abu Nayan, 54.

He said a few projects and activities have been stalled, despite approval given for the funding of these programmes.

"The annual state budget has been approved and plans have been made. The move to change the MB is causing many projects and programmes to be postponed," Abu told The Malaysian Insider.

One project is the state's efforts to woo investors from China to Kuala Kedah, while others involved welfare programmes for citizens.

"At least wait until the current term ends so that all the current plans by Mukhriz can be implemented.

"If a new MB comes in, I fear there will be a bigger mess and the projects won't be implemented smoothly and even delayed," he said.

While the previous PAS administration had problems due to infighting, Abu claimed development plans by the late Azizan were implemented successfully because there was no leadership change.

Azizan served out his full term, and died in September 2013, five months after leaving office.

"Even though Azizan was opposed by the state PAS leadership, he still remained MB until the end of the term.

"There was good impact from the developments introduced to the state then. Look at the Aman Mall project, the new roads and bridges. Everything was completed on time. If Mukhriz is removed, what will happen to development?"

The youth factor

The move to oust Mukhriz may also alienate the state's younger demographic who respect him, especially for the boost he has given to Kedah football.

Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is seen as popular leader in Kedah. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 29, 2016.Pertubuhan Amanah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) secretary Taib Ahmad, 55, said Mukhriz had the support of many youths in Kedah.

"For example, football fans have made him their idol because he has done so much for the sport, making the state team great since becoming MB."

This support is reflected in the number of youths at many gatherings, including at mosques and surau throughout the state, Taib said.

Civil servant Hazmi Halim, 31, felt the state's programmes, especially for youths, such as career fairs and other social development activities, would be disrupted if there was a power shift.

"Mukhriz understands youths and he is close to them, not like the candidates for his replacement, who are not close to youths and are disliked by them.

"If this is how things are going to be, how does the government plan to get close to youths?"

He said he did not see Kedah Umno deputy liaison chief Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah as someone who could understand the younger generation's aspirations.

Ahmad was the one who led the challenge to oust Mukhriz, and is tipped to replace him as MB.

With daily bread-and-butter issues facing the people, especially for the state's paddy and rubber farmers, the plan to replace the MB is making people angrier at Umno for being self-centered, Hazmi added.

"People are hoping for a government that can help them, not take advantage of them," he said.

- TMI