Kedah Kembali Ke Pangkuan @barisanasional #SaveKedah #KedahBaru

Kerajaan PAS di Kedah sebelum kekekalahan dlm PRU12  adalah pentadbir dan Barisan Nasional mengambil tugas sebagi agen "Check & Balance". Apa yg penting sekarang adalah mengenalpasti samada prestasi kerajaan PAS yang telah diberi mandat oleh rakyat Kedah mencapai tahap yang sepatutnya. Rakyat Kedah harus menilai setiap apa yang dilakukan sepanjang PAS memerintah menjelang PRU13 yang akan diadakan kelak.

Pada awalnya, Kerajaan PAS Kedah dilihat seperti satu sinar baru buat rakyat Kedah. Rakyat yang percaya dengan imej Islam yang dibawa PAS mendambakan suatu perubahan dalam segenap aspek. Menteri Besar Kedah Ustaz Azizan, seorang ilmuwan juga tampak tidak agresif dan mengambil pendekatan sederhana dalam mentadbir negeri Jelapang Padi. Namun begitu, mungkin kerana sudah lama membarisi kerusi pembangkang, Kerajaan PAS dilihat sangat lemah dari segi pentadbiran.

Kita boleh lihat dari segi pengurusan air di Kedah yg mana setelah disusun semula melihat kenaikan dalam tarif Air; lantas janji atau manifesto yang tarif air tidak akan dinaikkan gagal dipenuhi.  Penarahan bukit bukau bagi memenuhi nafsu serakah pembalak bukan lagi satu rahsia di Kedah, malahan berlaku di depan mata Menteri Besar sendiri. Projek pembalakan di Papua New Guinea yang pada awalnya dicanang sebagai tanda kebijaksaan pelaburan luar negara kerajaan, akhirnya punah bersama dengan wang rakyat.

Di kala kuil-kuil Hindu di seluruh negara dipertahankan walau dilanda arus permodenan, kerajaan PAS Kedah atas nama pembangunan berjaya merencana pengambilalihan tanah Madrasah Salihiah. Tidak mengejutkan juga bahawa pemaju yang terlibat adalah Belleview Group iaitu pemaju yang sama yang menjadi pertikaian di Pulau Pinang. Sekiranya kita lihat di Mid Valley Megamall, di sana kita dapat saksikan sebuah Kuil Hindu gah berdiri utuh menidakkan pembangunan total pihak pemaju. Di mana keseimbangan kebendaan dan kerohanian yang dicanang oleh PAS? Adakah pembangunan lebih penting dari mengimarahkan sebuah Madrasah?

Di manakah pula janji kerajaan PAS untuk menghapuskan maksiat, judi & arak sebelum mendapat kuasa? Kini bukan sahaja tidak dihapuskan, malah pusat-pusat hiburan terus segar tumbuh bak cendawan selepas hujan. Lihat saja di Alor Mengkudu di mana tersegamnya sebuah Kelab Malam Eksklusif bediri megah di bawah naungan kerajaan negeri.  Malahan kerajaan PAS terus mengutip levi & cukai dari bayaran lesen atas pusat-pusat hiburan, judi & arak . Tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan bahawa kerajaan negeri PAS punya "tangan kotor" dalam mengalakkan kebejatan sosial di Kedah.

Apabila disentuh berkenaan dengan laporan Audit Negara terhadap badan dan anak syarikat kerajaan negeri kedah didapati terdapat kelemahan perlaksanaan dan pemantauan. Kegagalan paling besar seperti pembalakan di Papua New Guinea dan juga projek 99 East di Langkawi jelas menzahirkan betapa lemahnya Kerajaan Negeri yang gagal membuat "feasibility studies". Suatu perkara asas sebelum membuat sebarang pelaburan besar.

Kemelut yang melanda Kolej Universiti Insaniah yang satu ketika dahulu menjadi kebangaan rakyat seolah tidak ada penghujungnya. Pelbagai masalah yang dihadapi seperti pembayaran gaji kakitangan yang tidak menentu, KWSP tidak dicarum serta yang terbaru disaman RM3 juta di Mahkamah. Semua ini menunjukkan kelemahan pengurusan ketara di bawah kendalian kerajaan negeri PAS. Di mana rancangan pembinaan rumah mampu milik yang dirancang di Pokok Sena, Yan dan lain-lain tempat? Semua ini adalah fakta dan bukan fitnah sehingga Adun-adun PAS kelu tak terkata apabila disoal di dalam sidang DUN.

Banyak lagi contoh yang dapat dibawakan di sini bagi membuktikan kelemahan kerajaan negeri PAS dalam aspek perancangan dan pentadbiran. Dalam usaha untuk menaikkan imej kerajaan negeri yang sudah semakin tercalar, satu buletin telah diedarkan oleh mereka kepada rakyat yang mengatakan bahawa sejak 2008 sebanyak 11 buah masjid telah dibina mereka. Walhal, Kesemua masjid tersebut dibina melalui dana persekutuan dan satu oleh individu.

Oleh itu tidak mengejutkanlah apabila melihat PAS Negeri Kedah menyaksikan perebutan kuasa di antara pimpinan negeri sehinggakan akhirnya mereka tumbang dalam PRU13. Kesimpulannya, Kerajaan Negeri Pas telah diberi peluang yang saksama untuk membuktian kemampuan mereka. Malangnya, tidak ada satu pun perkara yang dapat dibanggakan semenjak mereka memerintah. Apa yang jelas, mereka tidak pandai mentadbir dan harus dikembalikan ke barisan kerusi pembangkang.

@Zul Azry

PS: Alhamdulillah Barisan Nasional berjaya merampas tampuk pemerintahan di Kedah.Tahniah diucapkan kepada Datuk Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir 

I Love Alor Star

Alor Star is one of the most oldest city in Malaysia.Thankfully despite the recent so called economical development, it still maintain the simplicity and the peacefulness of a small town. I must confess that I was not born in this city. Instead I was born in Kuala Lumpur , the metropolitan hub of this country. I spent most of my childhood and youth in KL. In KL, I know where to find cheap second hand books near Bangkok Bank, the short-cuts to go about in the city; but that was those days. Nowadays KL is a place where I don't really fancy living in. It doesn't have personality. Personality goes a long way mind you. To quote Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction "...by that rationale, if a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal.." I'm not saying that living in KL is that grotesque but i think you get my message.

Alor Star got personality, the same goes to Ipoh [those days], Taiping and for that matter Kota Bahru. I still can walk around and find the same stuff years back in the middle of the town. My dad used to tell me that the best place to have a dinner for two in the 70's was a place where they house the Standard Chartered Bank before they move it to the current building. The first open air rooftop restaurant in Alor Star, some say in Malaysia. It was where all the high class party situated and among the trendiest place at that time.

My dad love to dress up, so he told me that there was a place to get authentic GQ shirt and also the best custom tailor in town. Amazingly, those stores are still around till today. But they have seen better days..Nowadays people go to Hypermarket...There are currently 3 hypermarkets in Alor Star and one more is purportedly in the offing..The Drycleaners at lorong merpati still ask about my late dad and how he was her best customer. When i stop by the drycleaners, they would themselves carry all my cloths and put it in my car. Do you get that kind of service elsewhere'?

I do go to hypermarkets, I'm not saying that its bad for the people in Alor Star but its not like "Kedai Runcit Ahlong" near my house or "Kedai Mamak "serabut""..Kedai Runcit Ahlong [not related to Ah Long Menace nowadays] provide delivery service to your doorstep.Whatever you want, he seems to have it all. I used to go to his store and sit by the stool and eat "Kacang Tumbok" while reading the list of groceries out loud to Ahlong; simplicity at its best!

I can't tell you my love hate relationship with Alor Star without referring to my late dad. Everyone seems to know him in the town. Often when i walk around the town with him, he would meet a friend or an old acquaintance and struck up a conversation..he loves to talk and talk and talk. When he speaks, his friends seems to be awe struck under a spell. He does that all the time. He showed me at one time this middle age man about his age cycling about the town. He told me that chap used to be "anak orang kaya kampung" spoilt brat. His father was a rich person and that chap always brags to my father about this and that. But as fate turned out, that chap is still cycling to this day. Oh how i miss my dad and his stories.

People are so friendly here. I once struck a conversation with a slightly older women on the bus en route to Alor Star. I asked her where is she heading to and to my horror, she couldn't stop talking until "Perhentian Bukit Gantang" where I at last faked my slumber. I do appreciate the friendliness but sometimes it could be bad for them cause people could take advantage over them.Some of the people I have met who had legal problems most of the times seems to be so gullible or naive. I think the the simplicity and friendliness must be balanced with the right attitude...I guessed.

I missed the old Alor Star court complex housed in a magnificent pre historic building and the surrounding area. Having long breakfast at Pak Majid stall nearby the old court building. Where you can dine-go the court-continue dining. I am so glad that i started my legal career there as it somehow taught me to be humble and the meaning of true friendship. I love my friends here and we enjoyed the working environment in Alor Star. Nowadays, the Alor Star Court had moved to a majestic new building but does it have personality? I don't know but my friends are still around and they don't have any complaints.

Oh well, I love Alor Star nonetheless and i would continue doing so. My adopted birthplace so to speak..:)

@zulazry 

[Reproduced from my note on facebook dated 13.7.2009 http://www.facebook.com/notes/azry-khalil/i-love-alor-star/101999892443 ]