Elect BN, reject opposition for more Sabah development - Najib





TAWAU, April 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today called on the people of Sabah to reject the opposition parties and re-elect the Barisan Nasional in the coming general election for the continuation of development in the Land Below the Wind.

The BN chairman said the people should reject the opposition parties such as Parti Warisan Sabah, PKR and DAP because these parties had never really served the people.

"Only the BN government has served the people. Just look at the BN manifesto. If anyone says the country is bankrupt, the BN government will have been unable to provide the UTCs (Urban Transformation Centres) and Pan Borneo Highway, upgrade dilapidated schools, make available rural water and electricity supply and increase the quantum of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) payment.

"Our promise for the last five years was to provide RM1,200 in BR1M payment but we have done much more this year by giving RM2,000," he said when opening the Tawau UTC here.

Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, deputy chief ministers Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin and Datuk Seri Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, and Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali were also present at the event.

Najib said that besides providing the BR1M payments, the BN government provided a RM1-billion allocation to repair and upgrade 120 dilapidated schools in Sabah using the Industrialised Building System (IBS).

The government's ability to distribute the BR1M payments and provide huge allocations of funds dismissed the opposition allegation that the country was bankrupt, he said, adding that the BN government had managed the country's finances efficiently and effectively so that when the revenue rose, more money was used for the benefit of the people.

"If the people face a higher cost of living, we add on BR1M payments. The opposition had earlier condemned BR1M as bran (bribe) but BR1M is also included in their manifesto.

"That's the opposition for you - always saying something else in the past, present and future. That's why we cannot listen to whatever they say. The people can only place their trust in the BN.

"Do not change what we have confidence in," he said, and advised the people to retain the good so that there could be a continuation of the good brought by the BN.

At the end of his speech, Najib announced an allocation of RM5 million to upgrade the 'pasar tanjung' market at the Tawau UTC for the convenience of the traders.

--BERNAMA