Windfall for Permatang Pauh, ulama out in full force
Malaysiakini.com
Aug 25, 2008 
Chan Kok Leong   

It is inevitable that a by-election brings with it a huge benefit for the locals, especially in the form of financial aid and development projects.
MCPX

Thus it is only natural too for the folks in Permatang Pauh to be pampered with such assistance, all in the name of developing the constituency, and with a little bit of hope that these assistance would convert into votes.

In the past 10 days, the people of Permatang Pauh have already reaped the benefit of having a by-election, with the federal government leading by a mile in terms of rewards and projects.

The Barisan Nasional federal government has pumped in or pledged a minimum total of RM6.52 million for Permatang Pauh, all in the hope of winning the heart and mind of these voters who had deserted the BN since 1999.

najib at bn leaders mca function in permatang pauh 250808 01The latest reward was a RM300,000 pledge - of a special allocation - for a community development project in Seberang Jaya by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

Earlier, a day before nomination day on Aug 16, deputy education minister Wee Ka Siong announced a RM1 million allocation for five Chinese primary schools here.

This was followed by another RM500,000 allocation for a government clinic at Seberang Jaya by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Aug 17.

On Aug 19, Wee gave another RM200,00 to a primary school in Sungai Lembu to expand their hall. On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced another RM500,000 to build a covered basketball court in the same place.

The following day, Najib announced RM1.82 million allocation for mosques and suraus in Seberang Jaya. He gave another RM800,00 to build a three-storey sports complex here.

On Aug 22, Najib announced an allocation of RM1.4 million for the Penanti Mosque and Surau. He followed that up with licences for Indians to delve into the scrap metal business.

The pledges continued later today with Najib saying that the government would help rebuild three Tamil schools and three Hindu temples in the constituency.

At the same token, it must be noted that PKR too, through its Yayasan Aman, has been providing financial relief for single mothers. However the amount given so far is negligible to that granted by the BN government.

The Pakatan Rakyat state government has not made any major concessions for the constituency, apart from declaring the polling day a state holiday.

It must be noted that BN used up almost RM36 million in development costs and financial aide for the Ijok by-election April last year, which it won.

PAS ulamaks here in force

Speculations that PAS leaders have been half-hearted in their support for PKR appear to be unfounded.

pas ceramah permatang pauh 240808 06On the contrary, in the past week, various top guns from the Islamic party have been busy campaigning and meeting their members here.

Perak MB Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin was here in the early part of the campaign until two of his exco members were charged for corruption.

His colleague from the north, Kedah MB Azizan Abdul Razak hosted a high tea at Guar Perahu on Sunday while his highly respected counterpart from Kelantan, Nik Aziz Nik Mat met voters last night at the Bandar Perda Mosque.

Although, Nik Aziz was scheduled to ceramah at Padang Ibu, the ailing MB did not make it and sent Pahang commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man instead.

Spiritual healer Haron Din (photo) too was at hand to help clear the air over the swearing issue at Guar Perahu on Saturday while information chief Mahfuz Omar gave his ceramah at Padang Ibu last night to a crowd number about 2,000.

Though short, PAS president Hadi Awang's message to his members to back "our warrior" on Saturday will not be forgotten when polling takes place tomorrow.                    

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