Wednesday December 6, 2006
Nik Aziz: Don't blame us for delays KOTA BARU: Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has slammed the Federal Government for portraying to the people here that the PAS-led state government would not cooperate with Kuala Lumpur in implementing the 9th Malaysia Plan. It was the Federal Government's own fault if previous Plans could not be effectively implemented, Nik Abdul Aziz said. He said the state government had always cooperated fully as development was a joint obligation on both sides, the ruling party and the Opposition. "Check our records. We have never interfered or impeded development provided by the Federal authorities. It was actually the Federal Government that created their own problems by selecting cronies," Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, told a press conference. For example, when Kelantan was awarded millions of ringgit under Federal grants to upgrade Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd's water supply, the Federal Government delayed work by insisting on appointing only its own contractors. The work could have been expedited and made even cheaper if they had hired contractors based in Kelantan, Nik Abdul Aziz said, adding that local contractors were just as capable. He promised total cooperation on issues such as land and local government, which come directly under the purview of the state. Nik Abdul Aziz was responding to comments made by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi during the 9MP roadshow here on Monday. Effendi had expressed concern over the cooperation level of the PAS- led state government as RM7.6bil had been allocated for Kelantan. Effendi had also said that as land and local government were under the state, there might be hiccups which the Federal Government wanted to avoid.??
