Unlikely Mahathir can develop Langkawi without Umno, BN — Khairy

LANGKAWI: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed is unlikely to be able to develop Langkawi alone without the support of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery.

BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said although Dr Mahathir was considered to have contributed to the island’s development, this progress would not have been possible without the support of the party who had nurtured him as prime minister.

Imagine if the BN has no power, there is no provision, Langkawi will not be built,” he said in an informal dialogue session with Langkawi youths on Friday night.

Recognising that the people in Langkawi still felt nostalgia of the time when Dr Mahathir still helmed the country, he said the people should think about the future of the young people.

“We remember and thank Dr Mahathir but for the next 10 to 30 years, we must support the party leaders who are able to continue bringing progress to our people,” he said. Meanwhile Khairy said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s plan to enhance the reputation of Langkawi on par as Monaco in Europe did not meant it was imitating the tourist attractions at the world famous resort.

He said the prime minister’s idea to turn Langkawi as “The Monaco of the East” was aimed at making the island more attractive to luxury travellers, thereby uplifting the economy of the people on the island.

“It is not that we want to set up casino such as in Monaco but we have our own unique mould to develop Langkawi to become a more well-known place (as a luxury tourism centre),” he added.

The dialogue aimed at clarifying issues to the youth here was also attended by Langkawi Member of Parliament Datuk Nawawi Ahmad, Air Hangat assemblyman Datuk Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid, Kuah assemblyman Nor Saidi Nanyan, Kedah Umno Information chief, Datuk Othman Abdul and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy.