BALIK PULAU: Opposition candidates’ allegations about lack of development here under Barisan Nasional (BN) are seen as a desperate attempt to cover its own weaknesses, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said.
Dr. Hilmi said the opposition was twisting facts as it had nothing to offer compared to BN ahead of the 14th General Election (GE14).
He said several healthcare projects planned for Balik Pulau were a proof that the federal government was attentive to the local community’s needs.
“This is proven with the approval for the Health Clinic (Class 3) to be built at Air Putih costing RM30 million, Bayan Lepas Health Clinic (RM40 million), upgrading works for Emergency and Outpatient Department, and operation theatre at Balik Pulau Hospital (RM8 million).
“The opposition only knows how to make allegations by creating stories without referring to the facts...as if the government does not give any importance to the healthcare aspects here,” he said in a statement today.
The opposition, in ceramah at several locations in Balik Pulau recently, had raised the issue of development, claiming the area was left behind compared to other parts of Penang.
Dr Hilmi, who is also BN’s parliamentary candidate, described the allegations as a desperate attempt to gain voters’ sympathy.
“The people of Balik Pulau also know that the opposition will not be able to elevate their life because its act is for the sake of politics,” he added.
He advised voters not to be fooled by the opposition’s tactics, which used Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a tool to gain Malay votes.
“Even DAP deputy secretary-general and Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy had reported said in his speech that he had never forgotten what Dr Mahathir had done.
“Another DAP man Hew Kuan Yau openly said Dr Mahathir was their tool and called him as ‘Shek Kin’, an evil Chinese character. They are making Dr Mahathir as a joke” he said.