‘Negri investments our work’

Ex-MB slams Pakatan state govt for claiming Barisan achievement

SEREMBAN: It is absurd for the Negri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan government to claim credit for the increase in investments in the state when it only came into power 10 months ago, says former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic).

The Rantau Barisan Nasional candidate asked how the Pakatan state government could bring in billions of ringgit in investments within a short period.

“The fact is some of the investments that came in later were already negotiated during my time (as mentri besar).

“One of the biggest was by ON Semiconductor, which four years ago entered into talks with my administration to acquire land to expand their operations in Negri Sembilan,” he told reporters at his by-election operations centre here yesterday.

The Pakatan state government said ON Semiconductor agreed to invest RM1bil to expand its current plant, which would help create another 2,400 jobs.

Mohamad was asked to comment on a statement by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amninuddin Harun that his administration received RM2.86bil in investments for 2018, which was double the amount received the previous year.

Mohamad also said during his time as mentri besar, some of the bigger multinational companies decided to stay in Negri Sembilan after his administration decided to intervene and convinced them not to move out.

“Some companies were planning to go to countries like Vietnam, but they decided to stay on and invest more due to our timely intervention.

“So please do not claim all the credit when it is clear that the Barisan government had worked hard to get these people to invest in the state,” he added.

On a separate matter, Mohamad criticised the federal government for its plans to increase water tariffs.

“There should be no increase during these trying times.

“When I was MB, I never allowed an increase for domestic users for 14 years.

“Instead of increasing tariffs, the authorities should ensure that they are able to be more efficient and cost-effective in their operations,” Mohamad said.

Last week, Water, Land Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said water tariffs had not increased in 20 years despite inflation and depreciation of the ringgit.

The water tariff is expected to be increased this year with most state governments apparently having agreed to it.

To a claim by Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr S Streram on the lack of facilities at the Rantau health clinic, Mohamad said this was because there was no land available for its expansion.

“The federal government had given us an allocation but we could not use it as the present site is too small to be upgraded into a more modern facility,” he said, adding that the funds were then channelled to build a clinic in another constituency in the state.