JERLUN: Voters falling for the opposition’s empty promises had resulted in Barisan Nasional losing five of the 15 parliamentary constituencies in the 13th General Election (GE13) in the state.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, when expressing his disappointment, had said that the misstep had taken its toll on the voters, since there was no development carried out in those parliamentary areas.
He said there was no reason for BN to lose the five seats when the government is already on the right track, bringing development to the state.
“They only come once in five years to promise the stars and moon, whereas those who live here are cheated by their agendas.
“Please to do not be cheated once again because it will be a loss to the state. The reason we lost the five parliamentary seats because we listened to outsiders when there was no reason for it,” he said at the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) presentation ceremony here today.
The TOL was presented to 148 residents under DUN Ayer Hitam.
During GE13, BN lost five parliamentary seats, namely Kuala Kedah, Sungai Petani, Pokok Sena, Padang Serai and Alor Setar.
Bashah said each of BN parliamentary member received RM30 million each term to carry out development projects in the constituencies.
He also reminded that history has proven that a splinter party in the country could not last very long due to the lack of strong foundation.
Thus, he urged the people not to take risk by choosing a splinter party when it has no capability to form a government.
“Now we have a flower party (PPBM) which is a splinter of Umno. Previously we have Semangat 46 but it has gone to the grave. A splinter party has no ability to succeed thus do not listen to them,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the TOL recipients, Siti Hajar Taib, 56, from Kampung Tandop Kedabu admitted that she could sleep soundly now after obtaining the licence.
“All this while we did not feel safe living on someone else’s land. We could not sleep thinking that someone might take our home from us,” she said.
Che Endan Baharum, 46, said she was touched by the concern showed by the government in listening to the plight of the people like her who were unable to buy a piece of land.