exclusive Suggestions have been rife that the on-going political imbroglio in Perak was caused by Barisan Nasional’s takeover of the one-year-old Pakatan Rakyat-led administration last February.

However, newly-appointed BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir vowed the new administration will bring positive changes to the Perakians, just like a proverb that says: “A bad beginning may come to a good end”.

zambry abdul kadir interview 200409 03 In an interview with Malaysiakini recently, he promised that the people in the silver state will be pampered with many “good policies” that BN had been implementing prior to the March 8 general election.

He proposed for the state government “to go back to the people” - not through a snap election - but through people-centric policies.

“(And understand) what they really want. It is not a question of having a fresh election (for) the people. I think it is bigger and deeper than that. (It is when we have to) understand their sufferings and predicament,” said Zambry.

On the same note, he also conceded that the are certain weaknesses in the BN administration.

“You cannot say ‘Oh, it’s all perfect’. Only those who don’t have the right attitude say they are perfect. I’m not saying that we are perfect in all aspects (but we) must (push) for the better.

“You must be concerned enough to go back to the people and serve them. That is the most basic principle... whether how good or better you are (from the previous government), let the people judge after a certain time,” said the Pangkor native.

Pakatan policies: New or continuation?

Zambry also put a question mark over previous policies implemented by the Pakatan Rakyat government headed by ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin.

According to him, policies such as free land titles, village head elections and funds for independent Chinese schools were similar to what BN had executed before they lost the state to the opposition for the first time.

zambry abdul kadir interview 200409 10 “Whatever pronouncement that was made (by Pakatan), is it the continuation of the previous (BN) government? If you look at some of the policies (they practised), (we had that) even in our previous policy,” he said.

“For example, the issue of education when they announced they would give out RM1,000 to students as assistance to go for their first degree, this was actually practised by our government,” he said.

Despite political instability in the state, Zambry claimed that for the past months and since becoming the menteri besar, the state had gained “some significant amount of investment”.

“(We have) about RM700 million (of investment) so far. And in addition to that, we have an investment from Universiti Teknologi Petronas where they are to expand their university to a world-class university with a total investment of about RM4 billion,” he said, flashing a smile.

Zambry also revealed that he has been receiving his salary as the menteri besar since he took over from Nizar.

This is contrary to Perak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decision to freeze the salary payout and allowances to him and his six executive councillors based on the grounds that their appointments were still questionable last March.

“Who said that? I have been doing my job as the menteri besar so I have been receiving my pay as the menteri besar,” he said.

Q&A: Give me a chance to prove myself

THE ZAMBRY INTERVIEW

Part 1

No clowning about: 'Pangkor Pele'

Q&A: It's like a children's story

Part 2

Zambry: Lessons from Bukit Gantang

Q&A: I’m not a liar

Part 3

'We need to go back to the people'

Q&A: Give me a chance to prove myself