JOHOR BAHARU, April 25 – Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman was picked as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Gelang Patah due to his good track record as Mentri Besar and success in implementing projects within Iskandar Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the people should reject outside candidate who was only trying to share benefits brought about by development in Gelang Patah.
“Suddenly, an outsider come here during general election just to share the cake,” he told reporters at 1Malaysia People Rally at Taman Universiti, Skudai, here tonight.
It was also attended by his wife, Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Abdul Ghani, Gelang Patah BN chairman Datuk Aziz Sapian and Gelang Patah MCA chairman Jason Teoh.
Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency which forms part of Iskandar Malaysia has been transformed to become the most developed region in the country. Muhyiddin said Gelang Patah’s economic potential was identified when he was the Johor Menteri Besar and at that time the area had a small population.
“Land reclamation gave rise to dissatisfaction as the people did not understand the vision and goals of the government.
“As time went by especially when Abdul Ghani was appointed the Menteri Besar and supported by Abdullah Badawi and Najib, the green areas gave way to development projects that have become the axis of national development.”
He said as a result of rapid development, many Gelang Patah residents thanked him as Iskandar Malaysia pushed the price of land in the area up to RM1 million per acre. Abdul Ghani is involved in a straight fight for Gelang Patah parliamentary seat with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
BERNAMA
