Perak's new govt seeks increased investment amid new political landscape

Related Video

PERAK : Malaysia's Perak state is calling on the federal government to respect the people's decision, as the state authority adopts policies that are non-discriminatory.

The new administration has vowed to rid the state of corruption and cronyism as it pursues increased investment amid a new political landscape.

Known as "the Silver State", Perak is famous for its great food, tin mines and limestone mountains and caves.

And the coalition state government is keen to capitalise on these areas to stimulate job creation so as to prevent the brain drain.

The Royal Belum State Park - located near the Malaysia-Thai border - is home to several globally-threatened wildlife species, including the Malayan tiger, the Asiatic elephant, the Malayan tapir, the white-handed gibbon, and the Sumatran rhinoceros.

The centuries-old rainforest park has immense eco-tourism potential just waiting to be tapped.

Thomas Su Keong Siong, DAP State Assemblyman, Perak State Executive Councillor, said, "Our Royal Belum is very rare forest, but are we really promoting it in terms of eco-tourism. I think it is very important is that we should preserve the Royal Belum, and I think one of the (ways in which) we can promote (it) is to let the world know about this beautiful place, and that a lot of scientific research can be carried out here.

"A lot of it, I believe, is unexplored. So the potential to promote it and package it in a nice way (is there), (and) then perhaps we can make it something unique to Perak. That's what people look for when they come to holidays."

In fact, plans are underway for the five Malaysian states not governed by Barisan Nasional (BN) - Selangor, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah and Perak - to set up a coordinating body to boost tourism.

Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Perak Chief Minister and Perak PAS Deputy Commissioner, said, "We are here to make sure the state will continue with all the development programmes that have already been drafted earlier on by the previous government. We will enhance them, (and) we will obviously increase the level and the speed of investment, both local and international as well.

"We will try to make sure that whatever decisions that have been delaying all the processes to enrich the state will certainly be reviewed...so that any elements of bureaucracy (and) red tape will certainly be reduced. We (will) try to make sure that the country is back on its track though for the last four years it has been in deficit. So we believe that with the principles of justice, principles of caring, welfare (and) integrity, we will be able to enhance all those ideas that we have".

As for the BN, they now have to get accustomed to playing the role of the opposition.

Mohamad Tajol Ghazali, Former Chief Minister of Perak and Perak State UMNO Chief, said, "Well, we lost through a democratic process. We hope to win (it) back in the next election by a democratic process, and we still have about four years to go, so (we) have to strategise. And the main thing is all the component parties of Barisan Nasional must be on their toes and we must stay united because no single party can form the government in Perak.

"So all the component parties of Barisan Nasional must be together, they must be united and we must be sensitive to each other's problems and needs. And I think if we can stay united and we are sensitive to each others problems and needs, God willing we should come back in the next election. We would like to play a positive role in the opposition. Even though we are in the opposition, our main aim is to develop the state and to develop the people in the state.

"If ever we achieve our target of becoming a developed state by 2020, we want the state and its people to achieve that developed status. So we will play our role positively to make sure the state is developed. But at the same time, we will make sure the government of the state will be on their toes."

The governing state coalition comprises the Islamist party PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Democratic Action Party.


But will this loose alliance be able to hold together against the rising expectations of the electorate?

The Perak Chief Minister said, "There are some elements of worries here and there. But certainly all the EXCO members, I mean the cabinet members, we have already agreed principally and professionally it should be based on certain guided universal values...We worked on the basis that (it has) nothing to do with religious sentiment, nothing to do with racist discrimination...It will certainly be based on values that are universally accepted. So if somebody (is worried) that the coalition government would not last, then give us a fair time for us to prove ourselves. But certainly based on those accepted principles, we believe that under some guided democratic principles, I think we can go on.

"The main signal is that number one, the federal government must respect the decision made by the state, by the rakyat, or the people themselves. Number two is that we are saying that we are going into a new political landscape that is not based on racial discrimination, that is not based on sentiments, or cronyism. Number three, the signal is very strong, asking people to respect that all decisions must be made on a fair basis. There must be some principles of justice. And the fourth signal is that we are going global. Being global means we have to accept universal attitudes, the way how people look at social changes, political changes as well."

Shan Theivanthiran, Lawyer and Chairman, Perak State Bar, said, "The transition from the former state government to this government has been a fairly smooth transition. However, we are awaiting to see what this state government can do. It's no longer the same old business as usual like what it was before...It's now a totally new state government. There will be teething problems. A lot of people are envisaging teething problems. And a lot of people are envisaging problems from within, between the civil servants and this particular government, because they are not used to the way things are being done.

"They are going to have a lot of high expectations of the new state government, but I feel those expectations may not be justified. Because...they are doing their best to try and curb the problems which have been faced by the previous government. To be able to undo what has been there for the last 50 years in a matter of months, or let alone a matter of years, will be an uphill task. And they may not be able to achieve that. But what we are assured of by this particular state government or this coalition is that there will be a lot more transparency with regards to the way things are being done."

There have also been tense moments between the palace and the new state government over the appointment of religious officials.

Against all odds, this coalition government is holding together for now.

In the final analysis, only time will tell if this new state government has what it takes to deliver the goods. - CNA/ms