The people are urged to be grateful and demonstrate their gratitude by continuing to give their undivided support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the 14th general election (GE14).

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was because only the federal government, through the BN, could champion the welfare of the people and provide development all this while.

"Soon the 'big celebration’ is coming and that is the time for harvesting. It is also during the harvesting period that the bats and flying foxes (the opposition) will try to steal the fruits from the trees grown by others.

"When the big day comes, I call on the people of Kulim to reject them (opposition) and give their support to those who have given the best service to the people regardless of the season,” Zahid said at the launching of the Kulim-Bandar Baharu programme "Live Without Drugs” (Hidup Tanpa Dadah) at the Saidina Abu Bakar Mosque in Kulim, Kedah, today.

Also present were Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Member of Parliament for Kulim-Bandar Baharu Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir and Bandar Baharu assemblyperson Norsabrina Mohd Noor.

Zahid said the people must realise that the opposition only came seasonally and not like the government, which always considered the interest of the people at all times.

"They should be rejected because their presence are only seasonal… some only came one in five years to try their luck,” he said.

He said even Islam called on the people to unite and reject the narrow political ideology.

Zahid, who is also BN deputy chairman, said every allocation channelled to the people all this while was a trust and not fodder, as claimed by the opposition.

"When given the trust, we can delegate them to the subordinates and the subordinates can channel the goods to the people,” he said.

Zahid also announced an allocation of RM246.23 million for seven development projects in Kulim and Bandar Baharu.

They included RM5.3 million for the construction of the Bandar Baharu Community Sports Complex, RM7.78 million to replace the existing bridge in Kulim, RM20 million for the construction of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Operation Theatre for Kulim Hospital, the Sanitary Disposal Site in Padang Cina, Kulim totalling RM43.5 million and the Transformation Centre and Community Recreational Project, Serdang totalling RM11.03 million.

He also announced an allocation of RM5 million for the management of Saidina Abu Bakar Mosque for the implementation of various projects and programmes.

- Bernama