BN, PR trade barbs over co-operation in Perak

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his predecessor, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, today traded words over co-operating with each other, after the Federal Court upheld the Barisan Nasional as the lawful state government.

Zambry indicated that he would neither bend to the will of the Pakatan Rakyat nor give in to the conditions they had set in exchange for their co-operation.

“I do not think they need to set it, it is not proper. We must be sincere when we help the people," Zambry told reporters here.

“As long as the government is being run in the right way and smoothly, there is no need for this,” he added.

When asked if he would at least agree to allow PR assemblymen to become members in some of the state's special committees, Zambry said: “Let me give you an example. Today, (former senior state executive councillor Datuk) Ngeh (Koo Ham) said that I am insincere.

“Does he remember that even when I was an executive councillor (during former BN government), I used to help him? At the time, he was the opposition. He would come and see me and I would help him,” he said.

When the Federal Court ruled that Zambry was the rightful Perak Mentri Besar, Nizar and all PR assemblymen agreed to work with the BN government but laid down four conditions: that the BN administration must allows PR parties to use public premises for the purpose of hosting functions; give memberships to PR assemblymen in all special committees at district levels; provide all PR assemblymen with allocations to the tune of RM150,000 or RM200,000; and for the BN government to base its administration on the principles of honesty, integrity, transparency, justice and welfare.

Zambry, instead, said that all parties — including BN— should just focus on getting back to work.

“It is time for us to work and not to celebrate. I hope that we will set our focus on developing Perak instead of to keep fighting these political battles.

“You know me, I want to work for the people of Perak,” he said.

The Pangkor assemblyman hosted a mammoth function for the public at his official residence here tonight, in order to offer thanksgiving prayers for Tuesday's ruling.

In his speech, he thanked the thousands gathered for their prayers and promised that his victory in the courthouse would not make him big-headed.

“I will not become conceited and big-headed, no. This victory was not mine alone. It was a victory that showed that the wishes of the people of Perak who want justice, peace and prosperity were answered by Allah.

“Me and my friends in the BN would like to pledge our commitment that we will keep working. It is time to go down to the ground,” he said.

Nizar says the BN administration is shutting them out.

Meanwhile, Nizar accused the BN government of being unapproachable, saying that they had “their arms crossed”.

“We have heard them say that our co-operation should be unconditional and it is clear that they have no intention to give in.

“But to me, if they fail to fulfil these conditions, then how do we co-operate with them?” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Nizar claimed that in their one-year rule, the BN government had not allowed the PR to use public premises such as public fields and community halls to host their functions.

“We do not even have the premises to go and meet the people because we are not given space to do so.

“The only way for us is to perhaps meet the people in pasar malams (night markets) or by the road side,” he said.

Nizar added that unlike when PR was in power, BN did not open the memberships on all district level action committees to all.

“If we cannot be in these committees, this shows that they are restricting us from giving our services to the people,” he said.

Nizar also said that during the PR's rule in 2008, a total allocation of RM75,000 was channelled to all BN assemblymen through the land office.

“Meaning, in all constituencies held by the BN, we give them money to spend for their constituency.

“Today, we in the PR get nothing from the BN,” he said.



comments


Well BN has been playing money politics for way too long. If Zambry is sincere then allocation must be given to all MP regardless of political affiliation simply because this is for the MP to serve the people. If the rakyat knows that their money were witheld because their MPs are non BN then all hell will break loose in the next GE. BN will suffer a humiliating defeat. Likewise, all public premises should be made available to all MPs. These are public properties and not BN.

Give us a break Zambry and stop acting like you are working for Perakians. If you really are, be inclusive. The opposition are not your enemy but are there to keep you from abusing your illegal power.