KOTA KINABALU: Incumbent Kota Belud member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Rahman Dahlan has asserted that the constituency was still ‘very close to his heart’.
Recently, speculation had been rife that Abdul Rahman, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, might be contesting in Sepanggar.
However, when met by reporters at the Ang Pow festival at SJK (C) Good Sheppard, Menggatal yesterday, Abdul Rahman had instead reiterated his love for Kota Belud.
When asked whether or not he will take over incumbent Sepanggar MP Datuk Jumat Idris’ seat, Abdul Rahman simply said “do not speculate”.
“Well, I love Kota Belud. As you know, I have been an MP there (since 2008) and still am…it has always been close to my heart,” Abdul Rahman stressed.
“I have many family members who are staying in Kota Belud. I have done my best in the last 10 years.
“We have a very vibrant population. There are entrepreneurs, civil servants and even people involved in the agriculture industry and whatnot,” he said.
He asserted that he had done ‘quite a bit’ for Kota Belud, citing the fact that the district had been chosen as a passage for the Pan Borneo Highway as one of many examples.
Abdul Rahman also took note of the fact that Kota Belud now had 1,000 PPR homes, a new Bazaar Rakyat and road improvements as other examples of Kota Belud’s achievements.
He added that in one or two weeks’ time, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be coming to his constituency to officiate the Kota Belud Polytechnic.
Earlier in his speech, Abdul Rahman also announced that 50 per cent of affordable homes located in Kionsom will be reserved for the people of Sepanggar.
He disclosed that the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman had agreed to the suggestion.
It was understood that 1,000 houses have been completed at the said area.
Each house will be sold at only RM42,000, which was 70 per cent less than the actual cost of the house at more than RM200,000.
When asked to comment on the recent launch of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), Sarawak’s own petroleum company, Abdul Rahman stressed that the Prime Minister was consistent in his quest to fight for the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) state’s rights.
He cited the recent Brexit move by the United Kingdom as an example, whereby he explained that such a process (just like the MA63) would need take time for it to be implemented due to the various laws, acts and jurisdictions that must first be ascertained.