Yusmadi: Where Penang Pakatan has failed

The perception that the Penang Pakatan Rakyat has not addressed the Malay community's problems has led to an unwanted outcome for the coalition that forms the state government.

Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff (right) said those disillusioned now tend to believe Umno propaganda.

Although wrong and false, such propaganda implies that Pakatan has failed to take care of the interests of the Malays, he said.

"There is nothing racial or parochial about being fair and just to everyone, not only to the Malays" he said.

"But acknowledging the perception is very critical in politics. Time will reveal if indeed this is the truth."

Yusmadi, who is a PKR central committee member, did not let BN off the hook when he referred to the various challenges facing the Malay community in Balik Pulau.

He said both the BN and Pakatan governments have failed to understand needs in Malay-dominated areas. The community is still struggling with issues of land and basic needs like housing, literacy and food security.

"For example, the reality in Balik Pulau has been overshadowed by the dynamics in other areas like Georgetown," he said.

"But Penang is not just about about what happened after Francis Light's arrival. Development is not only about physical infrastructure alone but also human development."

George Town, the state capital, holds 'World Heritage Site' status accorded by Unesco, and has been in the limelight with various activities.

Balik Pulau, a rural town on the southern tip of the island, naturally dims in comparison to George Town.

This is why the Penang government needs to come up with a new development model for areas like Balik Pulau if it wants to keep Malay support, suggested Yusmadi.

The coalition needs to think of a model that is different from the one that has been around for more than 50 years since independence, he said.

"If not, there is nothing to distinguish Pakatan from BN," he said.

'Insufficient support system'

Yusmadi also faces another challenge in Balik Pulau as three of the assemblypersons in the constituency - Pulau Betong's Muhammad Farid Saad, Teluk Bahang's Hilmi Yahaya and Bayan Lepas' Syed Amerruddin Syed Ahmad - are from Umno.

Yusmadi describes the rural voters in Balik Pulau as being the "smartest" for producing a voting pattern similar to those found in urban areas.

"But it can be a very daunting and herculean task to manage with an insufficient support system, what more with the geographical area of Balik Pulau being almost half of Penang," he said.

"And Balik Pulau is where most of the downtrodden Penangites live - for example, the factory workers, fisher folk and farmers."

The area became 'famous' for the wrong reasons when a tourism booklet published by NGO Arts Ed was seen as trying to wipe out the early existence of the Malays in Penang, thus insulting the community.

Muhammad Farid (right), who first highlighted the issue in Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia - is now being sued by the state for accusing it of being responsible for the booklet, and for his racist comments.

But racism is not the only evil confronting Penangites at the moment, said Yusmadi.

Parochialism, in all ethnic communities, be it Malay, Chinese or Indian, is the biggest stumbling block towards achieving a just society, he added.

"Some politicians are also overzealous - whether they are from Pakatan or BN - most are trying to contest over who is more Malay or Muslim, or who can represent the poor or all races, but the real issue here is how to be just to all".