PUTATAN: Barisan Nasional (BN) is ending its two-week election campaign here with soaring confidence of retaining all its seats in the district.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, who will be defending his Petagas state seat against candidates from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and State Reform Parti (STAR), said support towards BN remained solid despite attempts by the opposition to sway voters in the constituency.
“I observed that the support from the people towards Umno and BN has always been very good. The people understand the arguments thrown in by both sides and they seemed to be more inclined towards BN.
“This has been proven in the past and until now people can still see that we work hard to serve the people and deliver our promises. When we make promises, we make good on our words, and the people are smart enough to evaluate us based on that,” he said yesterday.
Nevertheless, the Sabah Umno secretary reminded the people in Putatan that it is vital they make right choice when casting their votes tomorrow, saying only BN can ensure a continuation of the rapid progress, stability and security Sabah has enjoyed all this while.
Yahya, who was met at the ground-breaking ceremony for Sekolah Agama Negeri (SAN) at the Putatan District Mosque, said the people could not afford to gamble the future of the State by voting for the opposition, who until now could not even reach an agreement and stop bickering among themselves.
“It clearly shows that they cannot govern. They cannot even organize themselves, how can they be trusted to manage the country or even a state. Just look at the states under their care, they could not even deliver what they have promised to the people.
“BN on the other hand, when we make promise on security, we do our best to ensure security, like right now. When the situation called for ESSCOM, we set up ESSCOM and we strengthened our security forces where needed. Not just the police but also the military were also mobilized.
“So, I hope the people will make the right choice by giving BN the mandate to continue to govern. We promise we will continue to bring about transformation that will propel the country forward and benefit the people,” he said.
On immediate development programme he would emphasise in his next term should the people re-elect him, Yahya said he would ensure that the project to widen and upgrade the road system in the district was implemented smoothly.
He said the government was planning to add another lane to the existing two-lane highways passing through Putatan and Petagas, to help ease the growing daily traffic congestion in the area.
The Islamic religious school, which Yahya officiated its ground-breaking ceremony earlier, would accommodate some 350 students.
Costing RM3.5 million, it is expected to be fully completed by May 2014, to serve as an extension to the existing premises.
Its completion will push the school’s capacity to 700 students.
Putatan has two state seats, namely Petagas and Tanjung Aru, apart from the Putatan parliamentary seat itself. All three will be defended by their respective incumbent elected representatives.
Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah (BN-PBS) will be defending Tanjung Aru in a four-cornered contest against Richard Yong We Kong (SAPP), Hamid Ismail (PAS) and Salleh Tiasi @ Tiaseh (STAR).
For the parliamentary seat, Datuk Makin @ Marcus Mojigoh (UPKO-BN) will be defending against Lee Han Kyun @ Joseph Lee (DAP), Awang Ahmad Sah (STAR) and Duli @ Dullie Bin Mari @ Marie (SAPP).
Yahya will be challenged by Mat Yunin @ Mohd Yunin Bin Atin (PKR) and Ahmad Awang Sah Sahari (STAR) for the Petagas state seat. #myvote13 #ge13