PKR has slammed Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanapiah for declaring that annual federal allocations will not be given to develop opposition-held constituencies.

"Ahmad Bashah's statement is utterly disgraceful and disrespects not only those who voted for the opposition but also BN supporters living in these constituencies," PKR’s Alor Setar MP Gooi Hsiao Leung said today.

"It is the responsibility of the federal government to develop all areas, regardless of which party wins the seat," Gooi told Malaysiakini.

He reminded Ahmad Bashah (photo) that development funds are public money.

"The money does not belong to Umno," he said.

"Unlike BN controlled states, in Penang and Selangor, states under the control of the opposition, development funds are allocated to both BN and Pakatan wakil rakyat for use in their constituencies," Gooi said.

"The use of political blackmail and threats to cut development funds have long been used by the BN and will not work anymore, and will certainly not win over the respect or support of the voters," he added.

Gooi was referring to Ahmad Bashah's statement at MCA's Chinese New Year open house in Alor Setar on Monday.

At the event, Ahmad Bashah announced that Kedah BN wants to wrestle back five parliamentary seats won by the opposition in GE14.

The five parliamentary seats are Alor Setar, Kuala Kedah, Pokok Sena, Sungai Petani, and Padang Serai.

'Kedahans more disappointed in BN'

The menteri besar urged voters not to lose out again, because the RM30 million in federal government allocation for each constituency cannot be channelled to develop these five constituencies.

Gooi said Kedahans are more disappointed that BN has been unable to address current issues faced by them, such as the increasing cost of living, the goods and services tax and lack of job opportunities.

He claimed that the "unfulfilled BN promises" include funding for Chinese schools, the building of Pendang Hospital, rubber city and more than 85 development projects the BN government promised for Kedah under the 9th and 10th Malaysian Plans, worth RM5 billion.

"With GE14 around the corner, Kedahans will have a choice: either to allow our country to slide further down with economic mismanagement, abuse of power, corruption and extremism, or vote to change and save Malaysia.

"I believe the choice is simple and clear and Kedahans will know what to do," Gooi said.