Chinese business community in Kedah paying price for choosing PAS

The Chinese business community in Kedah is getting weary of the PAS-led state government's inefficiency.
A local businessman said the lack of economic development was the price people in Kedah had to pay for voting in PAS in the last general election.
"Since the state government had few means to generate revenue, deforestation activities were actively carried out near Kuala Nerang, causing the rivers there to be polluted," said the businessman, who did not want to be named, on Friday.
He added that the business community in Kedah was also largely unhappy with several policies implemented by the state government.
"The lack of efficiency of the local government offices was apparent since PAS took over, problems like this will no doubt impede our business dealings," he said.
Also, local housing developers were said to be in a bind over many unsold units due to the 50% housing quota allocated for Bumiputera buyers, he added.
He urged the electorate to vote for the candidates rather than party in GE13 on May 5.
Another Chinese voter said PAS should not be given free rein to continue its incompetent governance just because the people wanted to punish Barisan Nasional.
Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall chairman Cheng Lai Hock said he believed that the Chinese community in the state would be able to make wise decisions in GE13.
"Whichever party that is governing, we hope that the interests and welfare of the Chinese community will be looked after," said Cheng.
The Alor Setar parliamentary seat, with a 34% majority Chinese voters, is set to be a major battleground between Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat.
MCA vice president Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung narrowly won the seat in the last general election by 184 votes against PKR candidate Gooi Hsiao Leung.
Chinese voters also have huge power to sway votes in the Derga state seat constituting 40% of the electorate while Padang Serai is an ethnically mixed seat with 56% Malays, 22% Indian and 21% Chinese.