Hypocrisy In Pakatan's Manifesto

I refer to Pakatan Rakyat’s General Election Manifesto which was launched today.

Kedah Gerakan Youth observes that a number of the promises made in Pakatan’s Manifesto were similar to those made during 2008 General Election. However, these promises were never fulfilled in the states governed by Pakatan. For example:-

1.            To Lower Water Charges

In Pakatan’s Manifesto for 2008 General Election, they promised not to increase Water Tariff in Kedah and may even reduce it. However, in year 2010, Kedah’s Water Tariff was increased upto 100%.

Penang’s Water Tariff was also increased under the pretext of Water Conservation Surcharge.

2.      Implementation of Procurement by Open Tender

         Many of the state projects in Pakatan states were never awarded through Open Tender. Examples are Kedah’s Aman Central RM500 million shopping mall, construction of KUIN main campus (RM330 million), Amansuri condominium (RM109 million), Penang WiFi project (phase 2) and the award of Penang housing consultancy contract for Batu Kawan.

3.            Free University & Abolishment of PTPTN

There are currently 2 major universities under the governance of Pakatan states, being KUIN (Insaniah) and UNISEL. Since taking over Selangor & Kedah, Pakatan had never given free higher education to all students in UNISEL & KUIN. Both these universities relied on students using PTPTN loans to pay their fees. In 2011, Kedah Pakatan government had even increased the fees for KUIN despite protest from its students.

4.      150,000 Affordable Housing For All

Since taking over Kedah, Pakatan Rakyat had failed to build any low cost house for Kedahans. In the Auditor General Report 2010, it was stated that not a single low cost house was built by the Pakatan led Penang government.

 

5.      Academic Freedom & Abolishment of UUCA

In 2010, KUIN (under the administration of Kedah Pakatan government) suspended 5 students who protested against a decision of the university’s administration. The suspension was made under the provisions of UUCA. The suspension of the students was never reduced despite public protest.

6.            To reform laws to regulate logging activities

Despite public protest over environmental damage, Kedah Pakatan government still refuse to stop the logging of forest reserves in the state, including Pedu, Gunung Inas and the latest, Bukit Perangin.

7.      Media Freedom And Restoring Trust In Media Practitioners

In 2011, Kedah Pakatan government barred a number of media from covering Kedah State Assembly after these media reported the state’s failure to handle the flood situation. Even in Penang, certain media are not allowed to cover state functions from time to time.

From the examples above, Kedah Gerakan Youth are skeptical on the sincerity of Pakatan Rakyat in implementing all the promises in their latest manifesto.

The actions taken by Pakatan government in Pakatan states didn’t reflect their promises in the past 5 years.

Thus, we hope Pakatan Rakyat would review their Election Manifesto so as not to mislead Malaysians in the upcoming General Election.

Star (February 21) - Tan: Kedah's debt has risen 50% in five years

Memorandum Kepada Menteri Besar Kedah - Hutang Kerajaan Negeri Hampir RM3 Billion

Tarikh:  20hb Februari, 2013

YAB Dato Seri Azizan Bin Abdul Razak,

Menter Besar Negeri Kedah

Wisma Darulaman,

Alor Star, Kedah

YB Dato Seri,

MEMORANDUM

Hutang Kerajaan Negeri Hampir RM3 Billion

Dengan segala hormatnya, kami merujuk kepada perkara di atas.

Mengikut Laporan Audit Negara 2011 terkini:-

1          hutang awam oleh kerajaan negeri sudah mencecah RM2.6 billion;

2.         tetapi baki wang tunai kerajaan negeri Kedah hanya tinggal RM193.22 juta.

Hutang awam RM2.6 billion Kerajaan Negeri Kedah adalah setakat 31 Disember 2011.

Melalui siasatan Pemuda Gerakan Kedah, pihak kami mendapati hutang RM2.6 billion tersebut adalah tidak termasuk hutang bagi pembinaan KUIN iaitu sebanyak RM330 juta.

  Hutang Awam Kerajaan Kedah (31 Disember 2011)      RM2.6 billion

           

  Kos pembinaan KUIN melalui pinjaman bank                   RM330 juta

                                                                                              ______________

Anggaran hutang kini                                                            RM2.933 billion

Sebelum 2008, baki hutang awam Kerajaan Negeri Kedah adalah RM2 billion (menurut laporan Audit Negara 2011 yang dilampirkan di sini).

Maka hutang kerajaan negeri Kedah bakal mencecah RM3 billion (kenaikan hampir RM1 billion atau hampir 50% selepas PAS/Pakatan ambilalih pentadbiran negeri Kedah).  Tetapi baki wang tunai hanya tinggal RM193.22 juta.

Kami juga telah mendapati bahawa anak syarikat Bina Darulaman Berhad iaitu Kedah Sato Sdn Bhd telah mengambil pinjaman bank sebanyak RM330 juta untuk membiayai pembinaan kampus utama KUIN. Bayaran ansuran hampir RM50 juta setahun bagi pinjaman tersebut bakal bermula tahun ini.

Kerajaan Negeri Kedah juga telah mengumumkan belanjawan 2013 defisit berjumlah RM1.1 billion berbanding anggaran hasil RM640 juta. Jumlah peningkatan sebanyak RM105.6 juta tersebut dikatakan akan disumbangkan oleh hasil premium tanah serta bayaran jualan air mentah kepada SADA dan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang. Tetapi selepas dibentangkan belanjawan tersebut, kerajaan Pulau Pinang telah menolak jualan air mentah dari Kerajaan Kedah.

Oleh yang demikian, Pemuda Gerakan Kedah amat bimbang dengan keadaan kewangan kerajaan negeri Kedah dengan beban hutang yang hampir mencecah RM3 billion pada masa ini tetapi baki wang tunai hanya tinggal RM193.22 juta.

Kami memohon agar Kerajaan Negeri Kedah akan mengambil langkah sewajarnya untuk mengurangkan beban hutang yang telah meningkat hampir RM1 billion, iaitu hampir 50% sejak pentadbiran di bawah kerajaan PAS/Pakatan.

Beban hutang kerajaan negeri Kedah dapat dikurangkan sekiranya:-

1.                  pentadbiran negeri mengamalkan perbelanjaan berhemah; dan

2.          membuat kajian teliti sebelum membuat apa-apa pelaburan agar tidak mengakibatkan kerugian besar kepada kerajaan negeri.

Kami berharap YAB akan mempertimbangkan perkara di atas bagi menjamin masa hadapan negeri Kedah.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Bagi pihak Pemuda Gerakan Kedah,

________________           

TAN KENG LIANG

Ketua Pemuda Gerakan Kedah

No. 5, Tingkat 2, Jalan Tengah,

Off Jalan Putera,

05100 Alor Setar, Kedah.

Press Release: Who Is Nick Xenophon Representing In Malaysia?

Press Release by Kedah Gerakan Youth (17th February)

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We refer to the deportation of Nick Xenophon, an Independent Senator for South Australia yesterday.

Mr Xenophon has previously supported the movement of BERSIH which held a street demostration last year. The event ended up as a violent street demo and caused severe injuries to Malaysians and destruction of public property.

We would like to stress that the deportation of Mr Xenophon was in conformity with the laws of Malaysia. We believe Australia and other countries also have such similar immigration laws in the interest of their country.

As a mutual respect between both our countries, Mr Xenophon, who is also an Australian Senator should not attempt to interfere with Malaysia’s internal matter whether in the past, present or future.

On this basis, Malaysia should only deal with the current Australian government under the leadership of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who has in the past confirm Australia will not interfere with Malaysia’s internal matter.

Thus, if Mr Xenophon has any suggestion which he wishes to bring forward to the attention of the Malaysian government, then he should proposed it using the right channel, being through the Australian government.

At this juncture, Malaysians are uncertain who Mr Xenophon is representing in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a democratic country with a free and fair election. We do not claim to have the perfect system but recommendations from our Parliament are accepted from time to time to improve our system. This includes recommendations from the opposition party.

Kedah Gerakan Youth, as part of Malaysians hopes Mr Xenophon would respect our country and would not blindly interfere with the internal matters of Malaysia in favour of any political party which he may favours.

TAN KENG LIANG
Kedah Gerakan Youth Chief