‘I always put people’s welfare as a priority’

No pressing local issues as well as Negri Sembilan’s achievements in various fields have given Barisan Nasional the advantage in defending the state in the 14th General Election (GE14).

State BN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the BN government under his administration had focused on development and solving the problems faced by the people.

“As a result, the opposition has no issues to play with in its bid to tarnish the state government’s reputation in the eyes of the people.

“From the first day I was appointed menteri besar in 2004, I have always put the interests and welfare of the people in the state as priority,” he said.

Mohamad said among the early efforts taken by him was to introduce the Social Security Network Policy, which was proven to be effective in identifying and assisting those in need, including the disabled, and the poor and low-income earners.

He said the state government’s move in introducing the new Negri Sembilan Housing Policy in mid-2015 had stabilised the price of houses in the state, thereby preventing it from rising to an unreasonable level.

He said the policy required housing developers to build 15 per cent affordable houses priced at RM80,000 and below, RM250,000 and below (15 per cent) and RM400,000 and below (20 per cent) in each approved development project.

Mohamad said he had also paid great attention to education.

He took over the state education portfolio a few years after he was appointed menteri besar, when he found that the overall academic achievement of students in the state was less than encouraging.

“We reviewed all weaknesses, including English proficiency among students and teachers, especially in rural schools, before taking proactive steps to overcome such problems.

“As a result, Negri Sembilan now is always among the top five states with the best achievement in main exams,” he said.

Mohamad said the state government was spurred by longterm development to become a modern state through the Negri Sembilan Long-Term Modernisation Plan 2015-2045, and the development of the Malaysian Vision Valley.

To complete Negri Sembilan’s overall development, the government had also implemented the 2016-2045 Rural Outreach Plan to create competitive and prosperous rural areas based on natural resources.

Commenting on BN’s preparations for GE14, Mohamad said the machineries of all component parties had long been mobilised, but among the key factors that would influence BN’s success were internal issues, including the selection of candidates.

He said the state BN could win many opposition seats in GE14 if internal disputes and sabotage elements could be avoided.

“The state BN lost many seats in the past not because the opposition was strong, but because of internal crisis, conflicts with each other and BN candidates being sabotaged.

“Therefore, after the list of candidates is announced by the BN chairman, I urge all parties to accept the decision of the party leadership and lend strong support to the candidate to ensure BN’s victory,” he said.

Meanwhile, Negri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan deputy chairman Loke Siew Fook did not deny Mohamad’s ability in governing the state.

“I have been giving credit to, and praising his administration and its excellence in governance.

“But in general elections, it is not a matter of loyalty and the personality of the leaders only.

“Voters are now looking at the quality of life of the people today.”