BENTONG: The 10-month-old unity government should be given more time to steer the country to greater heights including time to prove its effectiveness in administering the country.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the unity government only existed for 10 months and was already facing the heat of the global economy, and adapting to the working styles of the political parties in the unity government.
"For example, we have DAP, PKR, Amanah and Umno. This is part of the transition process that we have to go through. I believe if given enough time till the end of 2027 (full term till December 2027), we can see and evaluate the effectiveness of the unity government in administering the country.
"Ten months is too short of a time to administer the country," Johari told reporters after his walkabout programme at the Sungai Gapoi Orang Asli settlement near Telemong, Pelangai here today.
Johari, who is Barisan Nasional(BN) treasurer-general and Titiwangsa member of parliament, visited Pelangai to campaign for BN in the by-election slated for Oct 7.
He said as a member of parliament, he supports the unity government and shoulders the responsibility as the chairman of the government's Backbenchers' Club and chief of the 1MDB task force for the recovery of the stolen funds.
On his campaign in Pelangai, Johari said he visited two Orang Asli settlements in
Kampung Sungai Bot and Sungai Gapoi. Both settlements enjoy basic facilities including tarred roads.
"This is Barisan Nasional's benchmark as we walk the talk. The former assemblymen brought a lot of improvements here and I hope the next elected representative will emulate the efforts of the former leaders who served here.
"BN has never taken things for granted. In the past, we strived hard to develop Felda schemes and now, we want to bring changes to Orang Asli settlements including ensuring young children have access to proper education.
"I have informed Amizar (BN's Pelangai by-election candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam) that he has to follow in the footsteps of the former elected representatives in Pelangai. The foundation has been laid (for Amizar) and there are a few matters that need to be resolved."
Johari said he was informed that there is a popular waterfall at the Sungai Gapoi Orang Asli settlement and proposed for an entrance fee to be charged for visitors to the site to help the Orang Asli boost their economy.
Former Pahang menteri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob served as the Pelangai elected representative for eight terms between 1986 and 2018 before he was replaced by Datuk Seri Johari Harun in GE15.
The Pelangai state seat by-election is a three-cornered fight between BN's Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, Perikatan Nasional's Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.