Thursday May 15, 2008

Barisan reps questioned on pledge to resign

KUALA TERENGGANU: The new session of the Terengganu state assembly saw domination by PAS backbenchers who fired unremitting salvos against Barisan Nasional representatives, leaving the latter defenceless.

The backbenchers repeated pledges made by the 23 Barisan assemblymen that they would resign if Jertih assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was not reinstated as Mentri Besar.

The first salvo came from Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut (PAS – Wakaf Mempelam) who criticised Barisan representatives for reneging on their promise.

“I see that most of you are still here. What about your pledges to resign?” he asked, drawing no response from the Barisan side.

Another PAS assemblyman, Dr Alias Razak (Bukit Tunggal), labelled the Monsoon Cup and the Crystal Mosque at the Islamic Civilisation Park in Pulau Wan Man as extravagant projects that did not benefit locals.

He said that foreigners benefited from events like the Monsoon Cup and locals were left in the lurch.

“For instance, fogging is carried out during dengue outbreaks, but each year during the Monsoon Cup, Pulau Duyong is fogged not to control any outbreaks but to protect foreigners,” he said

Another opposition stalwart, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (PAS – Batu Buruk), criticised Kijal assemblyman Datuk Mohd Said’s appointment as Mentri Besar.

“The state created history when a Menteri Besar purportedly under a Anti-Corruption Agency probe was appointed,” he said, referring to an allegation that Ahmad was involved in a graft case that surfaced weeks prior to his appointment.