A Parti Sosialis Malaysia leader asked today why Kelantan has such a high occurrence of HIV cases in Kelantan if it was free of social ills, as claimed by the state's deputy menteri besar.
Yesterday, Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had remarked that if Kelantan had a more rapid pace of development, it would lure the youth into social ills.
Kelantan PSM chief Khairul Nizam Abd Ghani said that if Mohd Amar’s statement were true, then there would not be so many incidences of social ills in the state.
"If rapid development causes social ills like drinking among Langkawi youth, as claimed by Mohd Amar, why is Kelantan one of the states with the highest cases of HIV, pil kuda (methamphetamine) abuse, and solid waste management issues?" he told Malaysiakini.
Mohd Amar (photo) said yesterday that the slow pace of development in Kelantan was deliberate, so that its people would not feel left behind.
He cited Langkawi in Kedah as an example of a place which had seen rapid development and an attendant rise in social ills.
"In Langkawi, people drink alcoholic beverages like they drink cold water. People buy alcohol openly. In the end, the majority of Langkawi youths are damaged from a social aspect," he had claimed.
Khairul Nizam said that Kelantan's slow development is caused by its state government's understanding of economic issues, and its governing philosophy.
"This syndrome commonly occurs when someone has ruled for a long time. This is why a change of government is important to 'boost performance.'"
For Kelantan Amanah Youth chief Hazmi Hassan (photo), meanwhile, development means more than erecting buildings on the land.
"It also concerns taking care of the people's welfare and sharing the state's resources and wealth for the benefit of all.
"We can see the agricultural sector in Kelantan is so left behind without new innovations from the state government.
"Tourism is almost nonexistent and cultural and creative industries are also left untouched.
"If Mohd Amar's understanding of development is merely erecting buildings, I suggest he should study the definition more.
“Don't be ashamed to learn and ask those who might know what the word actually means," he said.- Mkini
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