Yahya says keen to defend Petagas seat

KOTA KINABALU: Petagas assemblyman Datuk Yahya Hussin said he is keen to defend the state seat in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).

“Yes, if I am chosen. If the leadership have confidence in me, I will continue to serve the state. Why not?” he responded to the press after officiating the closing ceremony of the Lestari Modal Insan Koperasi programme in Sembulan here yesterday.

The Putatan-born leader said he had not yet realised his dream of developing a packaging hub for the manufacturing industry and establishing a private institution of higher learning in the district.

Moreover, Yahya, who is also Deputy Chief Minister and Putatan Umno division chief, said more work needed to be done on tackling issues such as drainage, cleanliness, tourism, education and, most importantly, security in the district.

“All these things have not yet been achieved. I am aiming for a district police station headquarters in Putatan. We already have the approval for a fire and rescue station,” he said.

“Security is very important because there is still an increase in activities related to drugs. It is not alarming, but it is present.

“There’s a lot (that needs to be done). Housing is not enough. There are still plenty of squatters around. There is no proper place to accommodate the flood of tourists coming into Putatan now.

“We are in a rush because there is also a sudden boom in population and we are sometimes left behind in preparations for such things like having enough lorries to collect rubbish,” he lamented.