Tajuddin jokes about allocations to boost chances of becoming MP for 4th term

 

PARLIAMENT | Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has his eyes set on the next general election.

During the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, the three-term Pasir Salak MP requested Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to furnish allocations for his constituents.

"I just want to ask the minister, how much has been allocated to new villages like Chui Chak and Langkap which are located in my constituency?

"If possible, please allocate more, so that they will vote for me," quipped the 72-year-old politician.

Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azalina Othman in response to Tajuddin's remarks joked that the same consideration should be given to her constituency as well -Pengerang.

Zuraida said she does not have the figures for specific villages but assured that all village heads are given an equal sum.

"Actually, for allocations, there is no more or less, as all village heads have an RM100,000 allocation.

"They can apply for infrastructure improvements," she added.

Zuraida earlier responded to Wong Kah Woh (Harapan-Ipoh Timur) who inquired on the status and amount of allocations provided to Chinese new villages so far this year.

Among others, she said the ministry had allocated RM42 million for infrastructure projects in new villages nationwide, of which RM15.4 million has been spent on 235 projects.

"From the amount, Perak received RM5.2 million, followed by Johor RM4.2 million and Pahang RM1.4 million," she said, adding that no requests for allocations were received so far from Penang or Terengganu.

In a separate question on the status of a housing project for second-generation Felcra settlers, Tajuddin once again alluded to his chances in the next general election.

Deputy Rural Development Minister Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the commercial project in Felcra Changkat Lada, Seberang Perak, was scheduled for completion in 2018 but the contractor appointed has yet to hand over the project to Felcra's management.

Tajuddin, however, pointed out the project was mooted as a corporate social responsibility initiative during his time as Felcra chairperson and not intended for sale at commercial prices.

"How can the project become a commercial project? This was not the case.

"Please correct it; this is my warning. I want to contest again," he said jokingly. - Mkini