LAMAG VOTERS WELCOME BN MANIFESTO, URGE IMPLEMENTATION

KINABATANGAN, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Residents in the Lamag state constituency have expressed hope that the manifesto offered by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob would be implemented as promised.

Welcoming the manifesto, they opined that the seven offers were seen as important instruments in driving the well-being and socio-economic transformation of the local community.

Government retiree Atija Kabirun, 65, said the substance of the manifesto reflected the urgent needs of rural residents who yearned for an improved quality of life.

“If he (Mohd Ismail) is elected as the people’s representative and fulfils the promises that have been put forward, as residents here, we would indeed feel honoured. The incentives for students pursuing further studies and youths who have just got married are also very much appreciated if they can be implemented,” she told Bernama.

However, she said the main focus that should be given attention was resolving basic amenities issues, namely disruptions to clean water and electricity supply that continued to plague residents, besides describing the construction of People’s Housing Programme (PPR) houses as very helpful for the B40 group, who still did not own their own homes in the area.

Meanwhile, a primary school teacher here, Mohd Hasif Izzuddin Mohd Rasid, 39, said the manifesto put forward by Mohd Ismail - or affectionately known as Miha - was aligned with the aspirations of the people who wanted the Kinabatangan district to develop on par with other areas.

In addition, he said the offer to build a sports complex was a good move, given the absence of proper training infrastructure, which had also hindered talent development at the school level.

“Sports facilities are indeed very much needed and are often discussed, especially for schoolchildren. Without facilities comparable to other districts, their potential is somewhat limited from developing further,” he said.

Mohd Hasif Izzuddin also praised the proposal to establish a college or skills institution in Kinabatangan to address the high cost of living that students had to bear if they continued their studies outside the district.

For eatery worker Luqman Hakim Khamsah, 19, the establishment of a college or skills institution focusing on automotive, mechanical and electrical fields would provide opportunities for youths to equip themselves with technical training, and in turn, reduce the unemployment rate among young people.

Yesterday, Mohd Ismail launched a manifesto themed ‘Lamag Wajah Baharu’.

The seven offers included the development of PPR to provide affordable housing for the B40 and M40 groups, as well as improvements to basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, and Internet access.

It also involves creating tourism, handicraft, entrepreneurship and cultural sectors in Lamag; the proposal to establish a Kinabatangan college or skills institute to provide learning and employment opportunities for local youths; enhancing sports facilities with the construction of a sports complex or mini sports complex in Kinabatangan; and upgrading basic infrastructure in Lamag.

Also emphasised is the establishment of a new town, Bandar Seri Milian, as a catalyst for Lamag’s development; and a special incentive of RM1,000 for youths in Lamag who wished to pursue higher education as well as youths who had just entered marriage.

The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election sees BN candidate Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar contesting against Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while the Lamag by-election sees a one-on-one contest between Mohd Ismail and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan).

Both by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year.

The Election Commission has set polling day on Jan 24, while Jan 20 has been designated for early voting.

-- BERNAMA