Members of the DAP delegation include DAP National Vice Chairmen, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, MP, and Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General Kerk Kim Hock, MP, National Organizing Secretary, Tan Kok Wai, MP, National Treasurer, Fung Kui Lun, MP, National Publicity Secretary, Ronnie Liu and International/NGO Affairs Secretary Teresa Kok, MP.
Among the matters discussed at the meeting are:
Kharaj tax: Nik Aziz said the Kelantan State Government will wait for the outcome of the Terengganu state government's study on the issue.
Yesterday, at the two-hour "good and productive" dialogue between DAP leaders and the Terengganu PAS state government leaders, the Terengganu Mentri Besar, Haji Hadi Ahmad Awang, agreed that the kharaj tax would not be imposed on non-Muslims against their wishes. Hadi said that kharaj tax is still at the proposal stage under the responsibility of Harun Taib. In the state government study, there would be the fullest consultation with the non-Muslim communities as well as with the Barisan Alternative Leaders' Consultative Council. He said non-Muslims would always be given a choice to decide whether to opt for any PAS proposal - just as non-Muslim civil servants would be given the choice as to whether they want to avail themselves of the interest-free government loans introduced by the PAS government.
Support for Chinese primary schools DAP proposed
that the Kelantan PAS state government be the first state governments in
the country, together with
the new Terengganu PAS state government, to give a fixed and regular
allocation to the Chinese and Tamil primary schools in the state as a recognition
of appreciation of their contribution to national development. We
told the Kelantan Mentri Besar that although Kelantan is a poor state,
and does not have the petroleum resources like Terengganu, it is the symbolic
gesture that is more important than the actual sum. We suggested
the Chung Hwa Chinese Independent Secondary School should similarly be
given a fixed regular allocation from the state budget - which will show
up the difference between Barisan Alternative and the Barisan Nasional.
Amendment to State Constitution to nominate State Assemblymen to represent minorities Nik Aziz agreed to consider amendment to the Kelantan State Constitution to nominate State Assemblymen to represent minorities. When we met Hadi yesterday and raised the matter, the Terengganu Mentri Besar said that the forrmer Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas, who is now a Terengganu state exco member in charge of hisbah and special functions, is studying the possibility of amending the Terengganu state constitution to nominate a Chinese State Assemblyman.
Change of land title from freehold to leasehold on transfer We raised a complaint which we received from the people of Kelantan that on transfer of land on a sale and purchase agreement, the land title is changed from freehold to leasehold. We were informed by the Deputy Mentri Besar, Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman that the state government had inquired into the matter and was informed that this was in accordance with the National Land Code. This is clearly unfair and a deprivation of the property rights of Malaysians. The Kelantan PAS state government and the Barisan Alternative would look further into this matter and if it is true that this is the result of a new requirement in the National Land Code, then there should be an amendment to the National Land Code in the new Parliament to protect the constitutional right to property of Malaysians.
(16/12/99)