Enough playing victim, step up and offer solutions to Kelantan folk

MP SPEAKS | Annuar Musa at a rally in Kelantan outlined five points why voters in Kelantan should deny any support or a vote for the Pakatan Harapan-BN coalition in the upcoming state elections, which will take place in three weeks’ time.

I had watched the entire speech and my conclusion is that Annuar (above), now a mouthpiece for PAS after being one for Umno, has played the victim card that everything that has befallen the people and the state of Kelantan is everyone else’s fault except the PAS leadership in the state which it has governed for decades.

He claimed that the people of Kelantan had been betrayed by Umno and BN when he should instead take a look at the economic development and social advancement of Kelantan under PAS.

But what would Annuar - a leader who flaunts his wealth - know of poverty and the plight of Malaysians who are struggling to put food on the table and to make ends meet, particularly in Kelantan?

Kelantan remains the second-poorest state in the country, after Sabah. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had pledged to wipe out absolute poverty by the end of the year. It is indeed a daunting task but having a plan in place drives the political will to get it done.

Has the PAS state government made a pledge to end poverty in Kelantan? What is the offer by PAS for voters in the state if given a mandate?

To PAS and Annuar, is it not immoral to neglect the people of Kelantan, who have diligently returned the mandate for you to be in power when you don’t commit to economic rejuvenation and social reforms?

Annuar also praised Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the most generous prime minister, having given seven ministerial and deputy ministerial posts representing Kelantan during his time as the head of the federal government.

What was the report card of these seven ministers and deputies and what did they achieve? 

During their time in government, it should be noted that PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan - who was de facto law minister - even misled Parliament on the annulment of the emergency ordinances, forcing the palace to issue a strong rebuke.

Track records plain to see

State governments have the power, resources, capability, and influence to develop a state through its finances, programmes, and policies. Post-Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, what has the PAS state government offered to the people of Kelantan?

The five points delivered by an almost out-of-breath Annuar hammered on reminding the people not to vote for Harapan-BN in the coming state elections but offered nothing to capture the imagination of the voters on the economy, job opportunities, foreign investment, the rights of women and children, the future of Kelantan youth, and on social reforms for a more Madani society.

Since 2008, Penang and Selangor had been governed by Pakatan Rakyat and then Pakatan Harapan in spite of not being a part of the federal administration.

Both states had performed remarkably well under visionary leaders, and although branded as “opposition states”, the state machinery worked tirelessly for the people and vowed to perform better and better.

PAS has no excuse as a state government in Kelantan. PAS was a partner with PKR and DAP forming the state governments in Penang, Selangor, and in Negeri Sembilan until the party’s president Abdul Hadi Awang broke the pact which led to the formation of Harapan.

Annuar should stop misleading the people of Kelantan that others are to blame for their plight.

It is morally wrong to threaten voters in Kelantan and anywhere in Malaysia. - Mkini

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TERESA KOK is Seputeh MP.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.