What conspiracy against Penang Malays, asks Amanah leader

 

Amanah’s Bayan Lepas assemblyman, Azrul Mahathir Aziz, says Malays are not being sidelined in Penang’s development programmes. (Facebook pic)

GEORGE TOWN: PAS is insulting the Malays by saying that they are being driven out of Penang through the alleged enlarging of pig farms, road projects and reclamation, an Amanah assemblyman said.

This follows an allegation by Penang PAS committee member Abdul Razib Abd Rahim, who told the PAS muktamar yesterday that there were efforts to “reduce” the number of Malays in the state through such development.

Bumiputeras remain the majority population in Penang, statistics show.

Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz said the reality was that the Malays have prospered in Penang as a result of its infrastructure projects.

“PAS should not equate development for the well-being of all Penangites with racist intentions,” the Amanah Balik Pulau division chief told FMT.

“To say highways, tunnels, reclamation projects and an apparent hub for pig farms are ‘weapons’ by the Penang government to reduce the Malay population is an indirect insult to the Malays.

“Are you saying that most Malays in Penang are squatting on government reserves? Don’t fool the Malays with a narrow mindset and approach.

“The reality is Penang has attracted a lot of Malays from other states as the employment prospects are better here.”

Muhammad Faiz Fadzil.

Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, son of the late PAS president Fadzil Noor and now serving as Amanah’s Permatang Pasir assemblyman, said the allegation was wild and immature.

Faiz said the pig farming issue had been taken out of context as the Penang government was merely forcing open pig farms to be converted into modern closed-door systems to reduce their impact on nature.

He said there were no plans for mega pig farms in Penang and asked PAS why it had not raised the issue of pig farms in the states they held power, such as Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

He said Penang’s commitment to Islamic affairs was reflected in its yearly budget, with a 400% increase or an additional RM64 million in allocations since 2008.

“Penang also spent RM1.25 million on improving mosques this year. PAS must learn to be a mature opposition in the state and not be caught up with racist sentiments,” he said. - FMT