KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has promised that the Federal Government will assist the state Barisan Nasional (BN) to wrest back seats it lost in the next state election which must be held by June next year.
He said the commitment was proof of the close tie between the state BN government and the federal BN government.
“The federal government will assist the state BN in whatever ways, not only in the seats which it won before but including the new 11 seats as well as wresting back the lost ones,” Ahmad Zahid said in a press conference held at Kuching International Airport here yesterday.
However, he stressed that the federal government would leave the decision on when to hold the next state election to the state government.
In the last state election held in 2011, the state BN won 55 out of the 71 seats and retained the two-thirds majority in the State Legislative Assembly.
On the decision of the Court of Appeal which ruled in favour of the Election Commission, Ahmad Zahid said it showed the genuine effort of the state government to increase the number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly which took into consideration Sarawak as the biggest state in the country.
On his first official visit to Sarawak as deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid said it showed the commitment and sincerity of the Federal Government to develop Sarawak especially its rural areas.
“I chose Sarawak to be my first destination after my appointment because it is in line with the commitment of the prime minister and I to assist Sarawak.”
He said his the other purpose of the visit was to give assurance to Sarawak that projects and programmes promised by the prime minister and former deputy prime minister that were not included in the main development plan would be implemented.
“The Chief Minister in his speech last night on Rela Hari Raya Open House asked me to assist and I have discussed with my friends and colleagues how to make our visits to Sarawak as often as possible so that the projects for the target groups could be implemented smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also said he came to visit Sarawak to pay a courtesy call on Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to seek his advice and experience on how he could carry out his duty in his new role as deputy prime minister.
“I would like to thank him for his advice as he is an experienced politician who is able to analyse all situations and I hope my personal relationship with him will further enhance the ties between federal and state governments.”
He also said he was touched by the support of Sarawakians for the state leaders, especially for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and his cabinet members.