KUALA BESUT, July 17 (Bernama) -- A win in the Kuala Besut state seat by-election on July 24 is crucial for development programmes planned by the government in the area to be implemented in the best possible manner.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the federal government could easily channel aid to the area if the state government was from the same party as the central government.
"This factor must be taken into account by voters," he told reporters after visiting Kampung Nangka and Kampung Lampu, here, Wednesday.
"BN's capability is clearly proven by fulfilling its promises and always endeavouring to improve the people's standard of living, whether by building infrastructure or by providing direct aid," he said.
Mohd Shafie said RM4.4 million had been allocated from 2010 until now for 28 projects to boost the infrastructure in Kuala Besut. Of the total, 24 projects were completed while the rest will be ready soon.
"We have also approved an allocation of RM100,000 to upgrade a road (RM80,000) and building a square near the community hall in Kampung Nangka (RM20,000) for the benefit of 560 residents of the village," he said.
For the record, 10 projects to upgrade roads covering Kampung Lampu, Kampung Gong, Kampung Paya, Kampung Gong Tengah, Kampung Tok Saboh and Kampung Gong Manok had been implemented in Kuala Besut between 2010 and June 2013.
Meanwhile, two units of houses under the housing aid programme are being built in Kampung Pulau Salim and Kampung Pengkalan Sentol while a proposal had been made to repair the Info Desa Building in Kampung Seberang Kastam and Kampung Teluk Bayu.
Overall, Mohd Shafie said Kuala Besut did not experience many problems in terms of infrastructure because many facilities like water and electricity supply had been provided.
He said his ministry would continue to help Kuala Besut's fishing community and improve their quality of live.
Mohd Shafie also urged the BN election machinery to identify and engage with every voter in Kuala Besut, especially those in the interior, towards obtaining a bigger majority in the upcoming by-election.
He advised voters against being too obsessed with the political ideologies of certain quarters because it would only divide the people and bring harm to society.
"The capability of a party to bring about development should be used as a yardstick for us to choose it to lead. However, selection should not be solely based on the party but also on the background and capability of the candidate," he said.
The Kuala Besut by-election will see a straight fight between BN candidate Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman, 37, an engineer, and businessman Azlan Jusoh, 48, from PAS.
Kuala Besut has 17,683 voters and the by-election is held following the death of the incumbent assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar on June 26.
by: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/po/newspolitics.php?id=964152
