Perak party chief: DAP, PAS goals are compatible
Jed YoongPublished: May 19, 2008 8:44 AM | Updated: May 19, 2008 10:27 AM
Ideological differences between secularist DAP and Islamist PAS will not result in the Pakatan Rakyat state governments falling apart.
Ideological differences between secularist DAP and Islamist PAS will not result in the Pakatan Rakyat state governments falling apart.
In fact, the DAP’s social democratic roots are compatible with PAS's agenda for a welfare state, said Perak DAP head and senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham.
"Umno says DAP is a communist party, a (Chinese) chauvinist party, but DAP is a social democratic party," he told about 3,000 PAS supporters at a function in Pengkalan Chepa, outside Kota Bahru, yesterday.
Ngeh, who looks after the affairs of non-Muslims in Perak, spent most of his speech soothing the fears that PAS supporters have about DAP.
He said DAP is committed to creating a society with equal opportunities that also looks after the welfare of the underprivileged like orphans, single mothers, the disabled and the poor.
This, he said, is also in line with the PAS welfare state agenda, formulated in the run-up to the last general election. The party used this in place of its long-promoted Islamic state policy.
Ngeh stood in for Perak MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, a PAS leader, who could not attend the event due to other commitments. Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was expected to give a speech, pulled out in the last minute due to health reasons.
Also present at the function were Kelantan Deputy MB Ahmad Yakob and state executive councillor Husam Musa.
DAP and PAS has long been at odds over their differing ideology, especially over the Islamic state issue. Their differences even saw DAP pulling out of the Barisan Alternatif opposition coalition in 2001.
However, the parties, along with PKR, have since come together to form Pakatan Rakyat, after their unprecedented success in the March 8 general election.
The Pakatan coalition controls five states and has 82 members of Parliament, effectively denying Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority in the legislative chamber.
‘Non-issue’ over Karpal
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Ngeh said the Perak government is looking at maintaining the current reserves of RM700 million.
At the same time, the state is trying to generate more revenue by better management of resources and moving to downstream industries to add value to commodities now mainly sold as raw materials.
"For instance, there is a huge global demand for wooden doors. The price that you get for a door is much higher than for raw timber," he said.
The state will continue to pursue income redistribution to build a more equitable society in Perak. However, this does not mean that the state government plans to "take from the rich to give to the poor".
Ngeh also touched on the pressure being applied on DAP chairperson Karpal Singh over his allegedly seditious remarks against the Sultan of Perak over the transfer saga involving the state religious department head.
Ngeh said the matter is a "non-issue" and accused the federal government of blowing it out of proportion.
Karpal is being investigated for sedition after more than 20 police reports were lodged against him, including by Umno, after he said that the sultan has no powers to insist on reinstating Perak Islamic Department director Jamry Sury.
Jamry had been transferred out by Mohammad Nizar ostensibly for not cooperating with the state government.
Karpal himself is of the view that he has not said anything seditious and that he had only pointed out legal precedent involving the role of royalty in state administration.
In fact, the DAP’s social democratic roots are compatible with PAS's agenda for a welfare state, said Perak DAP head and senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham."Umno says DAP is a communist party, a (Chinese) chauvinist party, but DAP is a social democratic party," he told about 3,000 PAS supporters at a function in Pengkalan Chepa, outside Kota Bahru, yesterday.
Ngeh, who looks after the affairs of non-Muslims in Perak, spent most of his speech soothing the fears that PAS supporters have about DAP.He said DAP is committed to creating a society with equal opportunities that also looks after the welfare of the underprivileged like orphans, single mothers, the disabled and the poor.
This, he said, is also in line with the PAS welfare state agenda, formulated in the run-up to the last general election. The party used this in place of its long-promoted Islamic state policy.
Ngeh stood in for Perak MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, a PAS leader, who could not attend the event due to other commitments. Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was expected to give a speech, pulled out in the last minute due to health reasons.
Also present at the function were Kelantan Deputy MB Ahmad Yakob and state executive councillor Husam Musa.DAP and PAS has long been at odds over their differing ideology, especially over the Islamic state issue. Their differences even saw DAP pulling out of the Barisan Alternatif opposition coalition in 2001.
However, the parties, along with PKR, have since come together to form Pakatan Rakyat, after their unprecedented success in the March 8 general election.
The Pakatan coalition controls five states and has 82 members of Parliament, effectively denying Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority in the legislative chamber.
‘Non-issue’ over Karpal
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Ngeh said the Perak government is looking at maintaining the current reserves of RM700 million.
At the same time, the state is trying to generate more revenue by better management of resources and moving to downstream industries to add value to commodities now mainly sold as raw materials.
"For instance, there is a huge global demand for wooden doors. The price that you get for a door is much higher than for raw timber," he said.
The state will continue to pursue income redistribution to build a more equitable society in Perak. However, this does not mean that the state government plans to "take from the rich to give to the poor".
Ngeh also touched on the pressure being applied on DAP chairperson Karpal Singh over his allegedly seditious remarks against the Sultan of Perak over the transfer saga involving the state religious department head.Ngeh said the matter is a "non-issue" and accused the federal government of blowing it out of proportion.
Karpal is being investigated for sedition after more than 20 police reports were lodged against him, including by Umno, after he said that the sultan has no powers to insist on reinstating Perak Islamic Department director Jamry Sury.
Jamry had been transferred out by Mohammad Nizar ostensibly for not cooperating with the state government.
Karpal himself is of the view that he has not said anything seditious and that he had only pointed out legal precedent involving the role of royalty in state administration.
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