Nizar's tight balancing act in Perak

Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, who heads the Pakatan state government in Perak, is arguably in the most unique position in the country’s political landscape.

Nizar is from conservative Islamist party PAS, which with only six seats is the smallest party in the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition government. Yet Nizar is first among equals in the state.

Just over half of Nizar’s state cabinet are from Chinese-dominated DAP, and this has initially caused worry among the Malay Muslims on whether the new menteri besar could take care of their interest under such circumstances.

But after nearly 100 days of power in the state, the soft spoken and highly articulate menteri besar believes that the Malays - which makes up half the state’s population - are warming up to him based on his visits to Perak’s nine districts.

“In areas where the majority are Malays, such as Perak Tengah, there are no questions at all on whether we are a stooge - nothing of that sort,” he said when met at his office in Ipoh on Tuesday.

“As far as the Malays in Perak are concerned, the three-month experience that we have now, we have given fair treatment to all races... They are beginning to see the beauty of Pakatan Rakyat.”

No new laws on morality

Nizar claimed that among those who have approached him to express their appreciation include those from PAS’ arch-rivals Umno.

“I have been thronged by many Barisan Nasional or Umno supporters, who came (to see me) and gave their assurances. They never realised that the (three divergent political parties) could do that.

“I can tell if a Malay belongs to Umno, PAS or PKR,” he quipped.

Nizar was speaking to Malaysiakini after a press conference on the Pakatan state government’s 100th day in office.

During the press conference, he had been very evasive to questions particularly on matters concerning religion, such as the controversial suggestion by PAS Youth that strict morality laws be enacted in all Pakatan states.

However, Nizar stressed that the affairs of the state comes first ahead his obligations to his party. But he did not elaborate on the matter.

Nizar displayed more candor during the brief 10-minute interview with Malaysiakini, when he affirmed that there would be no new laws on morality.

“It does not arise at all,” said Nizar, when asked if Perak would follow the precedence set by PAS in Kelantan, where the Islamic party banned gambling and entertainment outlets, restricted the sale of alcohol and pork, and set guidelines for gender-segregated checkout lines at shopping malls.

Not mentri besar for PAS

Nizar said that not all models of governance was suitable in Perak and that all states held by Pakatan Rakyat were unique.

“I understand that the composition of Perak is different from other states. That is the reason for me to be more tolerant and considerate... I have to review certain policies, particularly those from PAS-ruled states. It has to be modified when it comes to Perak,” he said.

Nizar stressed that he was not a “menteri besar of PAS”, but a menteri besar representing Pakatan Rakyat and the people of Perak.

On how the state government would set the benchmark for fulfilling its election pledges, Nizar said that it would be based on the manifestos drawn up by Barisan Alternatif (PAS-PKR) and the one by DAP.

“After the formation of the coalition government, we combined both manifestos. We didn’t call it a manifesto at the time but a tawaran (offer).

“Thus far, we have managed to implement four out of the 10 tawaran. It is really not difficult for us, because some of the tawaran made by Barisan Alternatif were also made by DAP,” he added.

He said for example, both election pledges agreed to grant of land titles to planned villages and the inclusion of members of the public as local councillors.

Immediately after the brief interview, Nizar had to excuse himself to tend to the long line of people who are waiting to see him as Tuesday was the state cabinet’s meet-the-people day.