ALOR SETAR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah today defended Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang who was intimidated with action under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) by the state government following his criticism against it.

Ahmad Bashah said the Kedah BN would not stop exposing the weaknesses of the PAS-led Kedah government.

"We are not afraid of threats. The party will continue defending (Tan) Keng Liang because he was telling the truth, not some lies or some fabricated stories," he said in a statement here.

Ahmad Bashah said that when BN leaders, as message bearers, voiced out the people's problems, they did it with the aim of getting a response, not a threat, from the state government.

"We will continue exposing the administrative weaknesses of Kedah PAS one by one, so that the people can evaluate PAS's capability to run a government," he said.

Ahmad Bashah said this in response to a statement by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Razak who proposed to take legal action against Tan following the latter's criticism regarding the housing policy to be introduced in the state.

Ahmad Bashah, who is also Kedah Umno Liaison Committee chairman, said there were just too many issues that were not properly addressed by the state government.

"Issues pertaining to Insaniah University College (Kuin), logging activities in Gunung Inas which had affected the environment and the new housing policy were not addressed by the state government.

"Instead of answering all our questions, the state government prefers to put the blame on the message bearer. When in trouble, they still point the finger at others," he said