PAS’ voice heard for the first time in assembly

JOHOR BARU: For the first time in the assembly's history, PAS’ voice was heard when its sole representative Dr Ramli Md Kari delivered his maiden speech. 

The Senggarang assemblyman spoke for 15 minutes without being interrupted by the 55 Barisan Nasional assemblymen when debating the motion of thanks to the Sultan of Johor’s opening address. 

While he praised Johor for having a systematic religious school system, he said he was appalled with the high number of rape and incest cases in the state. 

He said 312 rape cases were reported last year while between 1997 and 2002, there were 191 incest cases. 

“I wonder what went wrong.  

“It really puzzles me as to how this could happen in a state whose religious school system is now being adopted by other states,” he said. 

At this juncture, Speaker Datuk Mohd Ali Hassan posed him a question whether the system in Kelantan or Johor was better.  

“There is still plenty of room for improvement,” he replied, when referring to the system in Johor.  

Maulizan Bujang (BN – Tiram) told the House that the handicraft industry in the state was a dying one and could soon disappear.  

He said less than half of the 140 handicraft entrepreneurs in the state were still active. 

“The remaining 70 entrepreneurs need government support in whatever form.  

“The government can help by forming a worldwide marketing network which would enable them, not only to survive but also to expand their businesses,” he said.