SHAH ALAM – Several Kedah youths have lamented the state’s underdevelopment and aspire for significant economic development to uplift the residents’ livelihoods.
Despite being renowned as the nation’s rice bowl, Kedah still lags as the second poorest state in Malaysia in terms of per capita income, they noted.
To address this disparity, the people of Kedah are advocating for comprehensive developmental initiatives to ensure the prosperity of their state.
During an Aidilfitri open house organised by the Kedah state government, individuals who had relocated to Selangor and Kuala Lumpur conveyed their desire for socioeconomic progress in their homeland.
TK Mohd Amirudin TK Abd Bashar, a 32-year-old technician from Kulim, noted a slight improvement in the state’s governance compared to previous administrations.
“Compared to the last time, there is a slight improvement in state governance there now,” the 32-year-old Kulim technician said.
He expressed a dilemma regarding his voting constituency due to the opportunities he has found in Selangor.
“I would prefer (to reside in) Kedah any day, but since I get my ‘rezeki’ (blessings) in Selangor, I am here. If there is a chance for me to go back to Kedah, I will go,” he said.
Amirudin, whose wife hails from Selangor, said that he has settled down in Meru and goes back to his kampung once every two years. However, he has never missed voting there.
He also said he has been thinking of changing his polling station to Selangor.
Muhammad Iskandar Sofian, a 22-year-old student from the Institute of Teacher Education Kuala Lumpur, aims to gain professional experience in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur before returning to his hometown in Naka, Kedah.
Despite disparities in development between Kedah and Selangor, Iskandar remains proud of his roots and emphasises the importance of enhancing employment rates and infrastructure under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
“Maybe from an economic perspective, we can see the difference because Kedah’s urban areas are not well developed either. However, I am still proud of my hometown, Kedah,” he said.
Muhammad Aidilfitri Mohd Adram, 25, who studied semiconductor engineering in Japan, suggested focusing on industries like semiconductor manufacturing in Penang and Selangor.
“Kedah has the potential to contribute more (to the country’s revenue) since it has mineral resources there.
“I hope the state government there will put more effort into making use of the opportunities to improve the well-being of the people,” he said.
Muhammad Lutfi Abdul Hakim, a student in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, acknowledges the popularity of Kedah’s Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor but prefers to reside outside Kedah due to its economic challenges.
Hailing from the state’s capital, Lutfi said he hopes that Kedah will see its glory in five or six years from now.
However, he said that he prefers to stay outside Kedah because it is still a poor and underdeveloped state. – May 1, 2024