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Langkawi won't swallow Najib’s RM1.3b 'candy', says PKR rep
Published:  Feb 21, 2018 2:15 PM
Updated: 7:38 AM

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s RM1.315 billion allocation for development in Langkawi has been termed an act of desperation ahead of the 14th general election.

Kuala Kedah MP Azman Ismail, of PKR, stated that while he welcomed the allocation, the donation seemed like “candy” to the electorate before the polls.

"The closer (GE14) gets, all sorts of allocation from the federal government are announced to the people," he said in a statement today.

Azman (photo) reminded the prime minister that the people of Langkawi are not gullible enough to fall for BN’s “promises”.

"Don't give empty promises to the public as they are not dumb. The same tactics are used by Umno-BN in every general election to win the hearts of the people," he said.

The allocation was particularly questionable due to its timing, noted the PKR lawmaker.

"Langkawi is a tourist spot that is known nationally and internationally, but why did Najib only now think of upgrading the people's life and development of that state?" Azman asked.

Langkawi is one of the parliamentary seats tipped to be contested by Pakatan Harapan’s prime ministerial candidate Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At a press conference yesterday, Mahathir made direct reference to the allocation, saying that Najib only announced it because he wanted to ensure the former's defeat.

"It looks like he (Najib) thinks that I will go (and contest in) Langkawi… To make sure that I will lose, he (Najib) came up with this new budget.

"He’s acting like a rich man with pockets bulging with money," Mahathir said, before teasing that he would make the rounds during the campaign trail in Najib’s own parliamentary constituency of Pekan.

In his statement, Azman also expressed his hope that there would be no repeat of the government making promises it could not fulfil, such as Kedah’s ongoing water woes.

The RM1.3 billion allocation announced by Najib is earmarked for the implementation of five new federal projects in Langkawi under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

Besides an RM600 million project to address the water supply problem, the allocation is for the construction of an additional building for the Langkawi Hospital (RM500 million), quarters for health staff (RM135 million), a new fire and rescue station and quarters at Padang Matsirat (RM30 million), and the upgrading of Jalan Bulatan Lapangan Terbang-Pulapol Langkawi (RM50 million).

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