After cash rain and instant projects, BN retains Kuala Besut

Harakahdaily,

Jul 24: Barisan Nasional has retained the Kuala Besut state seat following what has been described as one of its most expensive by-election campaigns.

The result [to be officially announced at press time] also means that a 16-16 'hung state assembly' between BN and Pakatan Rakyat in Terengganu could not materialise.

PAS made '16:16' its battlecry in the election, called after the death of BN's A. Rahman Mokhtar who won the seat in the May 5 general election by 2434 votes. It argued that while BN would still remain the state government, the unique balance of power would mean the state BN being forced to seek support from both political divides for any major decisions, and therefore encourage more transparency in governance.

Eager to thwart this, a spate of development promises followed even before nomination day, with some half-a-billion ringgit worth of projects being announced in this constituency of about 17,000 voters.

PAS election director Dr Hatta Ramli had estimated that the federal and state projects would cost RM377.45 million if implemented. Among them a RM250 million project to deepen Sungai Besut, RM35 million worth of upgrading works for a dam in Pengkalan Nangka, RM343,000 upgrading work for a mosque in Kampung Dengir and the construction of a RM28 million secondary school in Alor Peroi, Tok Saboh.

This figure was revised again by PAS research centre director Dzulkefly Ahmad to RM476.19 million, averaging RM27,000 each voter, a record high in the country’s history.

Queue for cash

Even as polling was underway today, witnesses spoke of scores of people gathered outside the residence of a village strongman in Kampong Tok Saboh (right), purportedly to collect cash being part of 'election sweeteners' from UMNO.

PAS's Muslimat wing information chief Aiman Athirah said a youth she approached told her that he had come to collect RM250.

Malaysiakini quoted the village chief of Kampung Lay Out, identified only as ‘Rajees’, who said, “I am the millionaire here. I can give my money to anyone I like.” The portal reported that scores of people were gathered at Rajees's house to collect 'Hari Raya money' and 'travel allowance' for those returning to vote.

During campaigning, copies of a letter were circulating, showing deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's approval of "Hari Raya assistance" to all voters in Kuala Besut.

The letter, signed by Hj Salleh bin Abdul Latif, the BN secretary for Kuala Besut by-election, states that the first payment of RM300 would be distributed on July 22.