GEORGE TOWN: With the start of Umno’s General Assembly just a few days away, delegates have been urged to focus on the people’s welfare and to find ways to address issues close to their hearts.
The plea was made by Gua Musang member of Parliament, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who wants the party to spare no effort in helping the needy.
"Issues such as price hikes of daily essentials, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) must be tackled at length during debates in the assembly.
"The GST and price increments for goods must be managed in a way that would help (lighten the people’s burdens)," he said during a solidarity talk at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here today.
Tengku Razaleigh also said there is a need to strengthen the party at all levels, and to reach out to wider groups in local communities.
Also present were the Chairman of the Consultative Council Goodwill Penang, Tan Sri Mohd Yusoff Latiff; Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang; and Universiti Sains Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Academic and International, Datuk Dr Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal.
On another matter, Tengku Razaleigh said he is prepared to discuss with the Kelantan state government ways to resolve the crisis involving the Kelantan Loggers Association (PPK) and the Orang Asli population in Forest Balah, Gua Musang.
He said he met with the indigenous group two weeks ago to ascertain the problems faced by their community.
"The Orang Asli have been threatened by uncontrolled logging activities. They also complain it's hard to get clean water and food because of encroachment of forest land.
"But what is even more problematic for them is that the forest area is not reserved for the Orang Asli, so they need intervention from the state government," he said.
Last October, the Orang Asli population of Gua Musang set up barricades to prevent loggers from continuing their land clearing activities in Forest Balah, Gua Musang.
Residents also prevented logging timber, estimated to be worth RM1.6 million, to be transported out.
