PAKATAN Harapan leaders in Perak admit that it is plagued with administrative weaknesses since the pact took over the state last May, leading voters to ask what is the difference between it and Barisan Nasional.

When PH was the opposition prior to the 14th general election, its machinery, including cyber troopers, was so active it dominated cyber space and helped end BN’s 60-year grip on power. 

Nearly 10 months on, Amanah Perak chairman Asmuni Awi admitted to weakness and said PH is working to resolve them. 

“I have to admit that our cyber troopers are weak and not as strong as compared with the general election. We are tackling this. 

“During GE14, we were strong, now we are seen to be in the comfort zone. 

“We are overcoming this, including in Perak. Watch out for our comeback,” he told The Malaysian Insight in Ipoh. 

Voters interviewed by The Malaysian Insight said they see little difference between the performance of Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu and the previous BN administration.

Many complain they do not feel the impact of development programmes and incentives. 

“I don’t feel as if there is any change in Perak. It’s almost the same like BN’s administration,” said Muhammad Azmi. 

The 35-year-old from Bidor said no one bothers to offer information and the people have to ask about pro-rakyat development programmes. 

“I only heard about housing. I do not know of any other aid or incentive. Only those in the state administrative building know what is going on,” the secretary of a private company said, referring to the state administrative office in Ipoh. 

Azrul Abdullah, 31, from Meru, Ipoh, shared the same view and suggested improvements to the way information is shared.

“We don’t know where the information is channelled to. Maybe there was help given but we don’t know where.”

Ramli Mohd Taib, 34, said he is clueless about development programmes implemented by PH in Perak. 

“I don’t know what has been done. What we know is we have to find money to feed ourselves.

“Let the government do what it wants,” said the restaurant worker in Ipoh. 

Ah Keong, 45, said the new state government should disseminate information more effectively. 

“The menteri besar has given help to the poor. There are people’s housing. We are aware of that. 

“The government is only nine months old, we have to be patient, we have to understand, it’s impossible to take power today and make changes,” said the workshop owner. 

Santhana Devan, 59, said Faizal deserves to be given a chance to improve his administration.

“I can tolerate nine months but if things remain the same after nine months, I will make noise,” he said. 

Bersatu Perak treasurer Amran Alang Ahmad defended the Perak government, saying that spending on development programmes can only be implemented when the budget is passed in December. 

“Before the presentation of the budget we can only govern, only after the budget is passed can we spend. 

“We can only plan now, so we can only manage the state with the allocation from January after the state’s budget presentation,” he said in Kampar. 

Faizal’s administration, who is also Bersatu Perak chairman, is focused on building 50,000 affordable homes within five years, Amran said. – February 28, 2019.