The Star: March 7, 2008
KOTA BARU: The RM76mil arrears owed by ratepayers will be written off if Barisan Nasional were to form the next state government.
Kelantan Barisan Nasional election director Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said a Barisan-led state government would forfeit RM26mil of land tax, RM34mil of assessment and RM16mil of water bill arrears.
He said it would review the taxation methods adopted by the PAS-led state government, which tended to burden the people.
“The write-off can be offset by higher allocations from the Federal Government,” he said after launching the Barisan manifesto for the Kubang Kerian parliamentary seat.
Dr Awang Adek also said the Barisan would fork out higher allocations for sekolah agama rakyat (people’s religious schools) so that its teachers and staffers can have a comfortable life unlike now, where they only earn a pittance.
On his chances of capturing the Perupok state seat which has been a PAS stronghold for the past 20 years, the mentri besar-designate said he was confident because he was a local boy.
“The PAS candidate is old and has been around for almost 20 years. He has overstayed, and it is time for a fresh face. There is excitement that someone from the area can become a Mentri Besar,” he said.
The economist was back on the campaign trail one day after the burial of his mother who passed away at the Darul Naim health clinic due to natural causes on Tuesday.
On the final lap to secure victory for the Barisan in Kelantan, he also rallied support for the candidates in Tumpat, Kubang Kerian and Kuala Krai.
Dr Awang Adek is up against two PAS stalwarts, Datuk Omar Mohamed for the Perupok state seat and PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa for the Bachok parliamentary seat.