Ex-MB Osman rejoins the fray

ALOR STAR: It has been over 10 years since he stepped down as Mentri Besar, but Tan Sri Osman Aroff is far from being done and dusted.
The still popular former leader has been called back and handed a key assignment by the Barisan Nasional – to neutralise identified “black areas” in the state.
Armed with a little “black book,” Osman has been moving around and holding court in hardcore PAS areas, where he is welcomed by skull-capped villagers making up the PAS election machinery.
“I do not get down to the hard facts right away with them. I handle them with a consultative approach and then get down to politics.
“I did this successfully when I was the Mentri Besar,” he said after visiting several “black areas” in the Sik parliamentary constituency, which the Barisan wrested from PAS in 2004 with only a 188-vote majority.
Datuk Othman Desa and Datuk Hasbullah Isa, who are both political secretaries to the Prime Minister, are facing PAS candidates in a direct fight for the Sik parliamentary and Jeneri state (which is within Sik) seats respectively.
The former MB, who quit in 1997 after leading Kedah Barisan to near complete victories during his 10-year tenure, is also helping to campaign for Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who used to serve as his special officer.
“He is young and I see a lot of potential in him to inspire further development in Kedah,” he added.
Othman and Hasbullah, both 53, said they were countering PAS’ attacks against them with a campaign themed on development.
“I will set up a think tank comprising local brains and government officials to formulate development plans and to look into ways to generate more economic activity here,” said Othman.

tunku : osman aroff one of the most corrupted ex-MB. he was asked to stepped down in 1997 after the kedahan are fed up with him.after that former pm still pity this guy and made him his special assistance for kubang pasu and last 2 years he backstabbed his former boss by making pact with johari baharom and saad osman to make sure Tun Mahathir will not get enough vote for the Umno General Assembly.of course osman aroff got some contracts from the present government for his hard work last 2 years.now he is the mentor for mahadir khalid(kedah mb).