Alor Setar, Dec 26 – The year 2013 saw Barisan Nasional (BN) returning to rule Kedah following its triumph in the 13th general election (GE13) on May 5.
The Kedah BN, whose performance was regarded as extraordinary when the support for BN at the federal level and many states were said to have ebbed in the GE13, won with a simple majority to control 21 of the 36 state seats while PAS won nine, DAP(two) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (four).
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who contested in the Ayer Hitam state seat was sworn in as the new Menteri Besar (MB) a day after GE13.
Political observers thought the naming of Muhkriz as MB if BN won back Kedah by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the eve of polling was an important factor in regaining Kedah.
Other factors were the failure of the PAS state government in bringing promised development and the internal squabbling of its leaders who formed the government.
After winning back Kedah, the state government headed by Mukhriz planned initiatives to fulfill promises in GE13 via the slogan ‘Prosperous and Peaceful Kedah: Spurring Transformation Together’.
In order to generate the best idea to develop Kedah, the state government organised the Kedah Transformation Laboratory (MTK) for two weeks in September. The MTK became a platform for interested parties to submit proposals to turn Kedah into a developed state.
Mukhriz focused on developing a high technology industry and at the same time wanted to retain Kedah as a rice bowl for the country.
He continued the efforts of the previous state government regarding matters he deemed were good such as giving allowances to voluntary Quran teachers and village midwives.
He also took steps to solve issues which were thorns in the flesh of the previous state government, such as the indiscriminate felling of timber and Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin).
When tabling the state budget in November, the Kedah government stated its commitment to give specific attention to efforts to eradicate poverty by ensuring economic development was shared by all.
The year 2013 was also a sad period for the people of Kedah following the death of former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, 69, who was respected by friend and foe.
Azizan, who was MB after the GE12 in 2008 until May 5, died a day after GE13, on Sept 26 at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, after four months of ill-health.
Azizan, who was Sungai Limau State Assemblyman since 1995, won for the fifth time at the GE13, in a four-corner fight with a 2,774-vote majority.
Following Azizan’s death, a by-election was held on Nov 4. PAS retained the seat when its candidate Mohd Azam Abd Samat (12,069 votes) beat BN’s Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim (10,985 votes).
– Bernama
