The Director of the Federal Development Department, Kedah, Datuk Azmi Lateh, has revealed that the Federal Government has allocated a staggering RM1.3 billion in development funds this year alone in the PAS-controlled state of Kedah.
He said that it was proof, if it was still needed, that Putrajaya had no intention on giving up on the Opposition-held state and would fight to support the rights and needs of the people there, ensuring that despite the inefficiency of the local PAS Government, the state would not fall by the wayside.
To start with, there has been nearly RM400 million put aside for the implementation of road and transport infrastructure projects between Durian Burung to Kupang, Baling.
“In addition, we have also built 11 new secondary schools and six primary schools within the last two years,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Further to this, just shy of RM52 million had been assigned to deal with the flood mitigation programme at Sungai Anak Bukit and nearly four times that figure – roughly RM200 million – had been allocated for a similar project in Sungai Muda.
Recently it was revealed that Kedah had received the third highest allocation of welfare aid in the country.
The Federal Government provided over RM114 million to nearly 40,000 of the poorest people in the state.
Support at this level is vital for a state where one of the most oft-cited grievances from Kedah residents is the inability by the State Government there to provide such basics as clean water.
Given the mounting problems facing him, it is no wonder that the Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak recently stated his desire to be replaced – and on the eve of GE13.
Of course, such news should hardly come as much of a surprise for citizens in PAS-held states.
Just on the other side of Perak, Kelantan faces a similar struggle where, despite 22 years in control, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has some very serious problems on his hands.
And rather than raise them and acknowledge the failings, tackling the problems head on, the issues are being brushed aside with grandiose claims of miracle cures.
In June, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed described the PAS highway plan as nothing more than ‘a pipe dream,’ noting that according to evidence in the public domain, it would be impossible to raise the funds to pay for the project – estimated to be around RM 4 billion.
“It’s an election gimmick. It would be difficult for the state government to achieve this. First, they estimated the project to cost RM2 billion but now they are saying it has gone up to RM4 billion.”
It’s not just Kedah or Kelantan.
The crises that demonstrate the Opposition’s most basic failings have extended to Selangor where citizens face either a shortage of water or are forced to put up with dubious housing deals which hurt hard-working Malaysians.
And so, like in Kedah, the Federal Government has been forced to offer assistance, time and again.
Yet, that is often easier said than done when, for political reasons, the Opposition can think of nothing they want less than help from Putrajaya – the Langat 2 Water Plant being perhaps the infamous example of Pakatan’s party-first attitude.
But such a stance is not the sort that wins votes. And if the Opposition wants to retain its seats in Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor and beyond, then it had better start playing catch-up with its development record.