Huan’s two questions for state government

Mr. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng : Will your administration fulfill the late Karpal's two requests on the illegal land clearing in Bukit Relau and also challenge the ban on non-Muslims from using certain words?

GEORGE TOWN: Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice president Huan Cheng Guan wants the Penang government to fulfill two last wishes of the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.

He wants Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s administration to take stern action against the culprits responsible for the illegal land clearing of Bukit Relau in Jalan Bukit Gambir.

Secondly, he demanded the DAP government to use its two-third majority in the state assembly to challenge the ban by the Penang Muftis Department on non-Muslims using 40 ‘Arabic terms’ in the state.

Firing the first salvo after announcing his candidacy for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election here today, Huan pointed out that Karpal made the first wish last July and the second in January this year.

“Can the Penang government honour and fulfill the late Karpal Singh’s last two requests to the Penang leadership which went unheeded?” he asked.

The virtual balding of Bukit Relau went unnoticed until Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer highlighted it in the press mid-last year. The developer was fined RM30,000, which the late Karpal described as “slap on the wrist.”

As for the Arabic words, the terms banned are solat, surau, masjid, Allah, Firman Allah, ulama, hadith, ibadah, Kaabah, Qadhi, Illahi, wahyu, mubaligh, Syariah, Qiblat, Haji, mufti, Rasul, Iman, dakwah, wali, fatwa, Imam, Nabi, Sheikh, Khutbah, Tabligh, akhirat, azan, Al Quran, As Sunnah, Auliya’, Karamah, Syahadah, Baitullah, Musolla, zakat hitrah, Hajah, taqwa and soleh.

The words were decreed by the mufti as provided under subsection 48(3) and (4) of the Penang Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004, as exclusive to Muslims, prohibiting non-Muslims in Penang from using them.

The decree was enforced on April 29, 2010.

Those found flouting the decree would be charged under Section 3 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Penang) 1996 and if found guilty, face a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or jail not exceeding two years, or both.

Huan also promised to withdraw from the Bukit Gelugor contest that if Lim can unveil his plans to resolve the issues in next fortnight.

He questioned whether Lim had failed to work effectively with the federal government to attract high quality foreign investments into Penang, and demanded for the state government to publicly outlay plans to arrest its decline.

According to Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) official report, investments to Penang have plummeted by more than 73%.

The state had dropped from its pole position in 2011 to sixth place in 2012 and fourth in 2013, just edging out Sabah.

Official figures for January to March this year revealed Penang sitting at 5th place with top-placed Sarawak getting almost 10 times the investments of Penang.

Huan pointed out that current investments in Penang were more on posh property development rather than foreign direct investment (FDI), which would create more quality jobs for Penangites.

The latest Audit Report 2012 on Penang’s finances released late last year showed that the state’s annual expenses had doubled from 2008 to 2012, while normal tax revenues had remained flat and declined in 2012.

Huan noted that the state government covered the doubling of expenses by generating revenues of more than 1,000% from sales of state land and assets in 2012 compared with 2008.

“Doubling of expenses covered by increasing asset sales is not a viable long-term situation. We need to know the state’s plans to address it,” said Huan.

He also challenged the state government to declassify and release the agreement for the controversial proposed Penang undersea tunnel for public to understand the rational and details of the project.

Finally, Huan urged on Bukit Gelugor voters to reject DAP in the by-election to send a strong message against its failure to stop PAS from tabling the hudud bill in coming June parliament sitting.

FMT