by MOHAMMAD ARIFIRIAZUL
BIN PAIJO
Sarawak PAS
Youth (Pemuda PAS Sarawak) is very much amused with the unintelligent response
made by two BN leaders yesterday in The Borneo Post. The statements made by
these two YBs, one of whom is the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat seem to
vindicate that BN leader are very much in fear of PAS’ ability to make real and
significant inroads in Sarawak’s political arena. It is only logical to say
that this fear is anchored with facts known by BN itself that PAS in Sarawak is
without doubt a great competitor to the BN ruling coalition in the last state
election. This is proven by the substantial and sizeable votes from the people
even with PAS’ tender age in the state and meekly machinery as against to the
Goliath BN.
It would
only be more sensible for these BN assemblymen to focus more on delivering
their election promises to the rakyat and prove themselves to be worthy
representatives of their constituents, rather than busying themselves in this
endless accusatory politics of no avail, typical of BN leaders. As all are
aware, both Santubong and Asajaya as represented by the assemblymen are still
largely plagued with poverty and inadequate basic amenities even after 50 years
of BN rule in the state. One can only wonder how many more decades are needed
by these BN politicians to really make a difference in the lives of the
Sarawakians, thanks to their incompetence and ineffectiveness in serving the
people.
PAS strongly
believes that only through the implementation of Negara Berkebajikan (Nation of Care &
Opportunity), Sarawak can truly be liberated from the chains of poverty and
insufficiency towards a just, progressive and prosperous state in which all
Sarawakians from all ethnic and religious groups can live harmoniously with
each other. Contrary to what has been alleged by YB Abdul Karim, PAS in Sarawak
has never promoted disunity amongst the people of Sarawak particularly, amongst
the Muslim community. Indeed, the only call which PAS is espousing, is the
clarion call for the Sarawak people of all races to unite against the
corruption and injustice perpetrated by BN for the past 50 years.
It invites
great disappointment to see a Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to be very
much misinformed or rather uninformed of the real statistics about Kedah and
Kelantan, both of which are successfully governed by PAS. To the frustration of
YB Wan Junaidi, Sarawak PAS Youth would like to enlighten the honourable Deputy
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of the data as furnished by the Economic Planning
Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Office which clearly shows that Kelantan has
fewer incidence of poverty at only 4.8% in comparison to the bountiful state of
Sarawak with 5.3%. Although Kedah recorded 5.3% incidence of poverty similar to
Sarawak in 2009, this PAS state has only 0.8% incidence of hardcore poverty
while Sarawak registered 1.0% in hardcore poverty. It is even more commendable
that Kelantan has in fact, triumphantly reduced its incidence of poverty by 25%
from 1989 until 2009 whilst Sarawak has only been able to reduce this by 16%
within the same period. At the same time, both Kedah and Kelantan managed to
reduce their hardcore poverty levels by 8% and 6% respectively, while Sarawak
has only managed to reduce its hardcore poverty level by an embarrassingly
minimal 2%. This is despite of the incessant sanctions of grants and lack of
financial support from the BN Federal Government towards Kedah and
Kelantan. Furthermore, in terms of
income inequality in Sarawak as measured by Gini Coefficient, this land of
abundance stood second after Sabah as the most unequal state in Malaysia. With
all these hard facts, no sane man can accuse that Kedah and Kelantan are ‘at a
loss’. In fact, PAS has yet again proven to the people that it can govern
effectively for the benefit of the rakyat.
As said by
YB Abdul Karim, ‘Talk is cheap’ and that is exactly what BN leaders have been
doing for the past 50 years without delivering enough to the deserving people
of Sarawak. As for PAS, we are here to stay and will continue to fight for the
welfare and justice of the brave people of this great Sarawak against the
corrupt BN leaders. God-willing, together with our partners in Pakatan Rakyat,
a new prosperous Sarawak shall be a reality.
* the writer is Sarawak PAS
Youth Chief
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