Know Your State Rep: Lone BN man out to help the poor

2008/07/26

Know Your State Rep: Lone BN man out to help the poor

By : S. Arulldas


Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (left) helping to resolve the problem of one of his constituents at a goat farm in Permatang Pauh in May

BUTTERWORTH: Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah needs no introduction to the people of Seberang Jaya in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

The second-term assemblyman has become a household name in the state seat and also in neighbouring areas.

He was the only Barisan Nasional candidate to win a state seat in the parliamentary constituency in the March 8 polls.

Arif Shah, a graduate of Nanyang University in Singapore, is known for his proficiency in Mandarin.

Such are his skills that anyone hearing him on the phone will assume that he is Chinese.

Arif is a well-liked politician who has his mind set on tackling one of the most challenging tasks in his constituency -- the eradication of poverty.

"My biggest task is to help the hard-core poor increase their income and improve their livelihood.

"It is not going to be easy but I have identified certain ways to achieve my aims," he said.

To prove he means business, Arif Shah has sought the help of non-governmental organisations to help him draw up strategies to help the hardcore poor in small businesses, like selling nasi lemak.

"I am confident of achieving my aim before the next general election."

Arif Shah has a service centre at a double-storey shophouse at Taman Pauh Jaya in Jalan Baru, with seven full-time and five part-time staff.

"As an opposition assemblyman now, my duty is to convey the grievances and suggestions of the people to the state government.

"I hope the state government will be able to fulfil its election promises."

Besides being an assemblyman, Arif Shah is also president of the Penang Unity and Welfare Council and the deputy chairman of the Seberang Prai Tengah Drug Prevention Association.

He is determined to create more programmes to enhance unity among the different races with the help of leaders from mosques, temples and churches.

As a BN representative, he hopes to secure Federal Government grants to organise such events.

Arif Shah will continue to play his role in ensuring that people enjoy basic infrastructure, regular rubbish collection, proper street lights, a good drainage system, enough playgrounds and community halls.