Barisan makes early start to win back Kelantan
The prime minister said he was in Kelantan to reiterate the Federal government's stand that the fate of the people of Kelantan and the country depended on its management and direction and based on the teachings of Islam.
Malaysian Mirror
The Federal government has started to pour money in Kelantan while Umno has begun to make early preparations to win back the state for the Barisan Nasional at the next general election, expected in 2013.
The coalition is confident that following its ‘creditable’ showing at the Manek Urai by-election in July, the people of this east coast state have started to warm up to the ‘1Malaysia’ concept that has been mooted by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
In fact, the Federal government, in keeping to pledges made during the by-election campaign, has approved RM8.9mil for development projects in the state constituency.
Fulfilling promises
The by-election saw PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah garnering 5,348 votes and Barisan’s Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat obtaining 5,283 votes, just 65 votes less. There were 117 spoilt votes.
Among the promises made to the voters was that the Federal government would build a bride linking the ‘old’ and ‘new’ towns of Manek Urau that are currently separated by a ariver.
During a buka puasa function at the Mara Junior Science College in Kuala Krai on Monday, the prime minister told the gathering that he has approved RM8mil to build the two-way bridge.
"I have also approved the Temalir mosque upgrading project costing RM600,000 and another RM300,000 for building sports facilities in Kampung Manjor," he said.
The prime minister added that he had said before the by-election that he would come to Manik Urai if the coalition won.
'Victory in terms of support'
The Barisan lost but, said Najib, “it was still a victory in terms of support from the voters.”
He added: “We only needed 33 more votes. If we had that, Barisan would have won the by-election."
The prime minister said he was in Kelantan to reiterate the Federal government's stand that the fate of the people of Kelantan and the country depended on its management and direction and based on the teachings of Islam.
He said Umno, as the main party in government, had made Islam the country's official religion and this was stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
He added that based on this precept, Umno continued to strive to make Malaysia a progressive Islamic nation.
Elaborating further on the Federal commitment to the state, Kelantan Umno chief Mustapa Mohamed said its channeling of a RM76mil stimulus package is proof of its concern over the well-being of the people of the state.
Mustapa , who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said the stimulus package was in line with the federal government's concept of '1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now'.
The Federal government has also approved a further RM11.5 million to assist the rural folk in the state, he told the gathering at the same function.
He said in line with the government's plan to eradicate hardcore poverty among 45,000 families in the country, the allocation would increase the number of those to be taken out of hardcore poverty.
State conventionto ready for polls
At a separate event, Mustapa said Umno will hold its state convention on Oct 3 to map out strategies to win over the Kelantan voters in preparation for the next general election.
He said there would be several working papers at the convention containing proposals aimed at strengthening the party in the state.
"Four workshops will be held to study strategies to win over the hearts of the Kelantanese people," he told reporters after chairing the Kelantan Umno liaison committee meeting in Kota Baru.
The meeting appointed state Umno deputy chairman Dr Awang Adek Hussin as chairman of the management committee to address problems at division level.
He said problems would be discussed during meetings aimed at finding solutions as prolonged problems could destabilise Kelantan Umno.
