Why BN Must Wrest Control Of Permatang Pauh

PENANG, March 2 (Bernama)-- Barisan Nasional (BN) has every reason to seize control of Permatang Pauh from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in this upcoming general election, as this parliamentary constituency, is in dire need of proper infrastructure and development.

Over the past nine years, Permatang Pauh has not seen much progress except for Seberang Jaya, which boasts of a well-integrated township initiated by the government to boost the administrative, residential, industrial and commercial sector of Malaysias northern region.

But as the 12th General Election gains momentum, the town of Permatang Pauh, like its neighbours in Penanti and Permatang Pasir have come alive, with party workers donning their villages with colourful banners, flags and posters of candidates.

Many are confused that the constituency encompasses Seberang Jaya, Penanti and Permatang Pasir, but for local folks in Seberang Perai, formerly known as Province Wellesley, they only know Permatang Pauh as a town.

But of the two towns of Penanti and Permatang Pasir, only Permatang Pauh shot into fame, and it owed it to kampung boy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who carved a name for this otherwise sleepy town.

That was 17 years ago when Anwar from Kampung Cherok Tok Kun, the founding leader and second president of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), shocked his liberal supporters by joining Umno, led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who became prime minister in 1981.

Early in his career, Anwar became a protg of Dr Mahathir, having held positions as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Dr Mahathirs administration.

In 1999, he was sentenced in a highly controversial trial to six years in prison for corruption and in 2000 to another nine years in prison for sodomy. However in 2004, the Federal Court reversed the second conviction and he was released.

Following the dismissal and arrest of her husband on Sept 20, 1998, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail led the fledgling Reformasi movement and first led ADIL, a civil rights NGO before helping to establish the Parti Keadilan Nasional on April 4 1999. The establishment of the party saw Dr Wan Azizah being elected as the first party president.

On Aug 3 2003, she brought the party into a merger with the older Parti Rakyat Malaysia which saw the establishment of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat and was elected as the president of the newly merged party.

In the 1999 General Election, Dr Wan Azizah led the party to win five seats in the Parliament and was herself elected as the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, the seat formerly held by her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with a majority of 9,077 votes.

It was a major setback for the party when it only managed to defend one parliamentary seat in the 2004 General Eelection, which was through Dr Wan Azizah who retained the seat with a reduced majority of 590 votes.

With the controversy surrounding Anwar, Permatang Pauh was once again thrown into the media spotlight --for the wrong reasons -- for his criticisms of his mentor, Dr Mahathir since his sacking from the government.

As a result, the constituency, now held by his wife Dr Wan Azizah was pushed to the backburner, with electorates grappling with problems like clogged drains, their childrens education, poor infrastructure and public amenities.

Above all, they say their main grouses are not being able to meet their parliament representative over the past nine years.

But the winds of change are seen blowing into the direction of the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, which this time, is all geared up to wrest control from the PKR.

In the run up to the March 8 polls, BN candidates have been working as a united force to wrest control of Permatang Pauh, the bastion of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

It wiil be a straight fight for both parliament and state seats in Permatang Pauh, with BN candidate Datuk Pirdaus Ismail, "returning with a vengeance" to take on Dr Wan Azizah for the parliamentary seat.

Pirdaus, a former imam of Masjid Negara who describes himself as a representative of change said the big drop in the majority of votes garned by Wan Azizah in 2004 as against 1999 was proof that the electorates wanted change.

Of the state seats, BN-held Seberang Jaya, is far more developed than its poor counterparts in Penanti, Permatang Pasir and the town of Permatang Pauh.

As Barisan Nasionals "apple of the eye" Seberang Jaya, which is in the district of Seberang Perai, boasts of townships like Bandar Seberang Jaya, Bandar Sunway and Bandar Perda.

Seberang Perai itself has come a long way from a sleepy cowboy town to what it is today - a bustling and developing giant. Many major developments are now focused in Seberang Perai which has been touted as Penangs catalyst for growth in the 21st century.

Incumbent and Seberang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Ariff Shah Omar Shah, who is being challenged by Parti Keadilan Rakyats Ramli Bulat, said that Seberang Jaya has envisioned to turn existing three townships -- Bandar Seberang Jaya, Bandar Sunway and Bandar Perda -- into smart cities, equipped with modern facilities by 2010.

At the same time, agro parks will be established in 12 villages within the Seberang Jaya constituency with the aim of providing a conducive and comfortable environment for the people, said Ariff Shah, who held the seat since 2004.

BN candidate for Penanti state seat Datuk Abdul Jalil Majid, said his constituency had been saddled with infrastructure problems, including floods over the years.

But despite the parliamentary constituency being held by the opposition, Abdul Jalil said Barisan Nasional "bore no grudges" with the PKR and delivered its promises to the people by sorting out problems such as the supply of clean water and floods.

Todate, RM170 million worth of projects to solve the flood woes among the local folks have been completed, and Alhamdulillah (Praise to Allah), not a single house needed to be moved when it rains for two days.

"We want to prove that the BN government cares for the people and that we walk the talk,"(Apa kita janji, kita kotakan.), said Abdul Jalil, who is being contested by PKRs Mohammad Fairus Khhairuddin.

For BN candidate for Permatang Pasir Ahmad Sahar Shuib, the March 8 polls will determine the future of the constituency, which has long been held by PAS.

"As a newcomer, I dont like to make promises which I cannot fulfill later, but one thing for sure, I pledge to give the best service to the people of Permatang Pasir, who have been neglected by the opposition for the past nine years," he said.

But Ahmad Sahar is no newcomer to the grassroots , having served the Community Development Department (Kemas) before, and with his experience working with the people, he hoped to serve them better when elected.

Like any other BN candidates, he would visit local folks at their home during the day, and give "ceramahs" to the people at night, explaining to them the governments policies and to counter issues manipulated by the opposition, like the rising oil prices.

"During my visits, the people poured out their problems to me such as not being able to meet their wakil rakyat (MP) to solve their problems, even things like getting signatures for forms and documents for their childrens education," said Ahmad Sahar, who is taking on incumbent Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS.

"But March 8 will be the point of departure (titik tolak). InsyaAllah (Praise to Allah), changes will blow towards Barisan Nasional in Permatang Pauh," said Ahmad Sahar, who held several key posts in both Umno and Umno Youth Permatang Pauh division.

Permatang Pauh has 58,449 voters comprising 62.4 per cent Malays, 24.8 per cent Chinese 6.3 per cent Indians and 0.4 per cent others.

-- BERNAMA