KANGAR, Aug 22- Although his 100-day mark as Perlis Menteri Besar passed by a week ago, Azlan Man prefers not to refer to the period as an indicator for his achievements.
He said he did not want to be bound by the figure 100 as overall good governance was more important to him.
Since taking the oath of office on May 7, he had just focused on the job regardless of the time (that had passed), he told Bernama at his office Wednesday.
“I do not want to be bound by the usual 100 days as mentioned by other administrations. Administrative matters can always be implemented, but the greatest challenge I foresee is to change society’s mindset,” said the 55-year-old Menteri Besar.
However, many matters have been implemented since he took up the post, including the facilitation of division of titles for land below 0.4049 hectare.
He said, previously the approval had to come from the state executive council and took a long time but he had implemented a new policy to empower the Land and Mines Department (PTG) with the matter.
“This was implemented about a month after I came into office,” said Azlan, who is also Pauh assemblyman.
In addition, the state government has delegated decisions on proposed development projects, including housing, to PTG without the need for approval from the state executive council.
“Once the departments and agencies provide their views on the application, PTG has the power to decide based on the technical department’s advice,” he said.
The state government has also implemented re-zoning the development of Perlis to facilitate planning by developers as well as landowners offering to sell their land.
“Before this, development zones were limited to specific areas and it hampered development,” he said.
Azlan admitted that there were many challenges to be faced in heading Perlis but they were not obstacles towards in achieving the visions for the state if the people cooperated to make it happen.
The stern Menteri Besar said, for starters, he would ensure that people prioritise cleanliness and the beautification of the environment as an indicator for the achievement of one of the visions, Advanced Perlis 2015.
“I conducted a survey and even visited the big Kangar market and saw that the traders and customers felt it was solely the Kangar Municipal Council’s duty to maintain cleanliness,” he said.
But their attitudes have begun to change for the better after being advised on the matter, he added.
He said the people of Perlis needed to make a major shift in their mindset in order to fully participate in a number of visions for the state, mainly Advanced Perlis 2015 and Perlis City State 2030.
All the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen were recently invited to participate in a strategic brainstorming seminar, aimed among others to inculcate a positive outlook in the people towards the development of the state.
The state government also launched the Strategic Perlis Development Plan 2012-2030, to produce a high-income population within the next 17 years.
A few quarters initially had a negative perception of Azlan with claims that he was not friendly and was tight-fisted, but his interactions with community leaders has dispelled the notion.
Azlan said, his concept of being Menteri Besar was 24/7, namely it was a job which entailed being on call 24-hours a day and seven days a week, and the same went to state executive councilors and assemblymen.
— BERNAMA
