The Malaysian Insight

THE PAS-led Terengganu government has been accused of being biased in providing assistance to the people, with the Islamist party’s supporters benefiting the most.

In reviewing the third year’s performance of the government of Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, some of the people in the state said there is no hope of getting any assistance if they are not supporters of the party.

They said their applications will be summarily rejected if they live in areas known to support rival Umno.

Businessman Arif Ramzi, 35, of Kuala Terengganu, in relating his experience, said last June, he applied for assistance under the state’s wage subsidy programme as his business was severely impacted by the various health and travel restrictions that were being put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

He said his application for the assistance, managed by Yayasan Pembangunan Usahawan Terengganu (Terengganu Entrepreneur Development Foundation), was rejected even though he fulfilled all the requirements.

“I don’t know the reasons why my application was rejected. But from what I could see, this PAS-led government is more inclined to help its own supporters,” he said.

He said he is bitterly disappointed as what is happening does not reflect the promises made by PAS to provide assistance equally to everyone, and not only its supporters.

“This PAS government is doing the same thing the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government, led by Umno, did,” he said.

“Nothing has changed. When Umno was in power, this practice of giving assistance only to its supporters also happened.

“When PAS returned to power, we thought things will change.

“It is still the same. When Umno was in power, they (PAS) were angry and accused Umno of helping only its supporters, but now, they are doing the same thing.”

Arif said providing the various assistance through elected representatives is how they identify who their supporters are.

He said the government should distribute all aid through district officers and village heads, and not through their elected representatives.

PAS returned to power in the state in the 2018 general election, winning 22 of the 32 seats in the legislative assembly.

The Islamist party had previously governed Terengganu for a term after the 1999 general election before losing to BN in the 2004 polls.

Help from volunteer groups

A private-sector employee, who only wanted to be identified as Rohani, concurred with Arif’s assertion that the distribution of assistance by the state government is lopsided.

The 36-year-old, who lives in Kuala Nerus, said a lot of Covid-19 assistance that was provided by the federal government had gone to PAS members.

“A lot of help has been given to their supporters. During this pandemic, the state government said there is a lot of money to help the people and it is easy for us to apply for it,” she said.

Rohani said in the end, no assistance came.

She said the people probably got more assistance from civil society groups than from the state government.

A businessman, who wanted to be known by his first name Ahmad, recounted PAS’ reaction to his village’s community programme that was carried out without any help from the state government or elected representatives.

Ahmad said the village was surprised to learn that the PAS coordinator of the state constituency there organised a rival programme not too far away.

“We were baffled. We tried to search for answers and the only thing we could think of is that PAS must be claiming we are Umno supporters,” he said.

“It’s a pity really. My village does not support BN.

“If they are a little open and less extreme in their reaction, who knows, the ‘blue’ in many areas could be changed to ‘green’,” he said, referring to the blue colour of the BN and the green of PAS.

But Ahmad admitted that such reaction is not exactly the norm throughout the state as there are other elected representatives who are helping everyone across party sentiments.

“There are also state constituencies where PAS’ elected representatives are okay. I suppose it depends on who the leaders are,” he said.

“But still, the assistance only goes to one side.”

Another trader, a PAS diehard who goes by the name of Said, said he sees nothing wrong with the state government’s policy.

The 51-year-old trader at the Pasar Payang was, however, bitterly disappointed when the government stopped this year’s Hari Raya assistance.

“The assistance should have been given because it helps us, the traders who are currently affected by the pandemic,” he said.

When asked if the discontinuance of the Hari Raya assistance will make him switch support at the next election, his reply was an emphatic “No”.

“I will vote for PAS. I want a Malay, Islamic government,” he said. – May 18, 2021.