In Langkawi, Najib unveils a new set of goodies to counter Mahathir
Speaking in Langkawi on Friday (May 4) night, Datuk Seri Najib announced 18 initiatives to boost the island’s tourism sector in the next five years.
LANGKAWI - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday night (May 4) trained his gun on the constituency contested by his No 1 rival, unveiling a slew of tourism-related initiatives for Langkawi aimed at swaying support away from opposition leader and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Speaking at a dinner on the resort island, Datuk Seri Najib also expressed dismay over the personal attacks that have surfaced over the last seven days of campaigning, saying that he prefers to adopt an "explanatory approach" as politics should be based on a party's agenda for the people.
Malaysia will head to the polls on May 9.
The 18 initiatives he announced to boost Langkawi’s tourism sector in the next five years include setting aside RM100 million (S$33.92 million) for the Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank to provide loans for business owners managing chalets, hotels and convenience stories.
They can receive loans from RM25,000 to RM250,000 with an interest rate of only 3 per cent.
The Government will also provide RM5,000 grants to 1,000 small business owners from June 1, while 200 Bumiputera entrepreneurs will get grants of up to RM10,000 each.
An Urban Transformation Centre will be established in Langkawi to make it convenient for residents to access key government and private services under one roof.
To boost tourism, Mr Najib said that a business hub modelled after the Chatuchak market in Bangkok will be set up at Cenang beach in Langkawi.
"This will not only attract tourists but increase Langkawi's residents source of income," he added.
Other initiatives include a premium outlet mall, a motocross circuit and a private hospital to boost medical tourism.
"It is up to you to make a decision on May 9 (polling day). This is our agenda for the island of Langkawi," said Mr Najib to over 500 dinner guests in a speech which was also shown live on his Facebook page, drawing some 30,000 views.
Pumping his fist and in a rallying call, he added: "We will fulfil this agenda."
These latest set of goodies comes on top of the RM1.3 billion development package for Langkawi, announced by Mr Najib in February.
Projects that will be carried out under the package include an expanded hospital, a fire and rescue station as well as the upgrading of Jalan Bulatan Lapangan Terbang-Pulapol Langkawi.
It is also another attempt by Mr Najib to counter the influence of his former mentor and now political foe, Dr Mahathir, in Langkawi.
Known as the Jewel of Kedah, Dr Mahathir, 92, is revered by residents, who credit him for transforming the sleepy, underdeveloped island into a renowned tourist destination hub.
The oldest candidate in the coming election, Dr Mahathir will contest in Langkawi as a candidate of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, after his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia was slapped with a provisional dissolution.
He will be facing a three-cornered fight with Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent Nawawi Ahmad, who is defending the seat for the second term and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) candidate Zubir Ahmad.
Mr Nawawi said that there are Langkawi residents "who are torn between voting based on an individual or party".
"But it's important to choose the party because the party is the one who will bring Langkawi towards a better future," he told reporters at an earlier event.
"If you vote based on who the candidate is, that person cannot do much alone. In addition, the opposition candidate is old, compared to BN's candidate. So, if we want to choose an individual who can do his job, you need to choose someone who has the energy and time."
The past seven days of campaigning have seen leaders of the various political parties trading barbs, with personal attacks being hurled in different directions.
But Mr Najib said that instead of engaging in such tactics, he prefers to lay out his party's agenda.
"For me, politics should not involve having low morals. It should be based on the agenda for the people, the future of the country and to bring transformation and development," he said.
"Who has the best agenda? Who has the best ability to deliver?"
Campaigning for the ruling coalition across the country, Mr Najib has had a hectic schedule on Friday.
A few hours before the dinner, he briefly visited a carnival in Langkawi that seeks to promote the goods of small businesses.
In the morning, he was canvassing for votes in the state of Terengganu, telling voters at an event that progress and development will be stifled if they chose to change a government simply for the sake of changing.
“If we make a wrong choice, the administration will fail to chart the future and all that we (BN) have planned so far will be affected," Mr Najib was quoted by Malaysian media as saying.
“As such, we cannot change a government midway.”
He said changing a government was not as simple as changing a car as it involved the administration of a nation.
“If we make a wrong choice, the administration will fail to chart the future and all that we (BN) have planned so far will be affected.
“As such, we cannot change a government midway."
