No toll for motorcyclists using Penang bridge if BN wins GE14
BALIK PULAU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched 12 health-related projects worth RM1.64 billion for Penang.
The 12 projects involved the construction of the specialist clinic block and the maternity ward of Penang General Hospital (HPP); the construction of the women’s block and the children’s block of HPP; the construction of HPP quarters; upgrading of HPP phase 2; upgrading of the HPP transplant services, including the allogenic bone marrow transplant and the construction of the Kepala Batas Nurses College in Bertam.
These are in addition to the upgrading of the centralised air-conditioning system operation theatre and electrical system of the Bukit Mertajam Hospital; the construction of the Bandar Perda Health Clinic; upgrading of the Seberang Jaya Hospital; construction of the multi-level block of the Seberang Jaya Hospital; construction of the Air Putih Health Clinic (Type 3) in the South-West District and Upgrading the Emergency and Outpatient Department of Balik Pulau Hospital.
Najib said the 12 projects were the continued initiatives of the Federal Government in looking after the welfare and prosperity of the people in the state.
“It is true that we give a lot to Penang. In the last five years, we have given RM4 billion to Penang. We don’t neglect Penang. We will continue with this project and today we launch 12 projects,” he said at the “Perhimpunan Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat” here.
He said only BN was capable of giving a more guaranteed future and this was proven based on the outstanding track record of the coalition in administering and developing the nation.
Najib said BN would add the essence of the BN manifesto in the 14th General Election (GE14) by including the abolition of toll collection for motorcyclists at the Penang Bridge if it succeeded in wresting the state from DAP.
In a Twitter post later, Najib announced that toll for motorcyclists would also be exempted at the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge.
Najib also asked the people of Penang on what they had gained in the past 10 years under the DAP-led Penang government.
He reminded them of the constant flash floods and frequent increase in water rates and surcharge in the past decade.
He said during BN’s rule, there was only a single increase when it came to water rates in the state.
He also reminded them of the 51 promises unfulfilled by the state government.
Najib said DAP also approved 39 hill-slope projects between 2008 and 2017, while BN, under Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, only approved four of such projects in five years.
“In Penang, people suffered while developers got projects.
“In Selangor, PKR leaders got the votes while the people got the pails,” he said, a reference to the water woes in the state.
“They are ‘tak boleh pakai’ (useless). The people can only depend on BN for a better future,”
He questioned what was the point of making promises when they were not fulfilled.
“(For them,) talk is cheap. But for BN, we fulfil our promises. As such, people must rethink who they really want to lead them.”
In Bayan Lepas, Najib said if BN won Penang in GE14, the chief minister will come from a BN component party, but not from Umno.
“This is because we have the power-sharing concept in BN, and we respect that. That is the understanding,” Najib said at the “Majlis Makan Malam Bersama Rakyat” event at SMK Teluk Kumbar programme.
He gave his assurance that the massive Penang South Reclamation project, which is set to affect the livelihoods of fishermen, will be scrapped if BN came to power in the state.
The reclamation was set to see the creation of three man-made islands to fund the state’s transportation masterplan.
“The Federal Government, via the environmental impact assessment report, will not agree to the project. But, the most concrete assurance will come from the people if they vote BN into power in Penang in the coming election.
“If the people here do not want reclamation, then give your greatest support to BN.”