Voters in Semporna will remain faithful to Barisan Nasional (BN) because they have benefited from the various development aid, said Semporna Umno acting chief Nasir Sakaran.

He said BN was confident of retaining all three state assembly seats in Semporna, which comprised Sulabayan, Senallang and Bugaya.

"At the beginning, people had assumed that the district was a ‘dark’ area (losing area) based on previous GEs. Even Mohd Shafie Apdal (photo), who contested as an Umno candidate, won due to the support of the people for BN and not for personal reasons,” he said.

Nasir, who is the Senallang assemblyman, was speaking at the "Jelajah Kasih", an Umno tour of Pulau Selakan, Larapan, Pababag and Pulau Bait, in Semporna.

Nasir said "Jelajah Kasih" was Semporna Umno’s effort to meet the people in an informal setting.

"To get close to the people, we need to dispel slander and the web of deceit created by the opposition,” he said, adding that the programme also was a platform for residents to exchange ideas, information and solutions.

Pulau Selakan village head Kapital Pata, 57, said the more than 200 voters on the island would remain loyal to the BN government in GE14, out of gratitude for the development it had brought to the island.

Pulau Larapan village head Duglayan Hawaian, 57, said he believed the villagers would vote for BN because it had developed the island and provided them with numerous facilities.

Duglayan and Kapital took the opportunity to request for health clinics and monitoring posts to be built on their islands for the convenience and safety of the islanders.

– Bernama