Lo and behold the 'goodies'

In the run-up to the Bagan Pinang by-election there were allegations that BN offered many 'sweeteners' to win over the voters.

PAS had even threatened to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the alleged 'goodies' offered by Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan to entice army personnel to vote for BN.

Below are the promises made to the Bagan Pinang folk in the run-up to the landslide victory for BN's Isa Samad in the Oct 11 by-election.

Sept 27: Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen announces that the Negri Sembilan state government will cooperate with the Tourism Ministry to attract more than six million transit passengers from the KL International Airport (KLIA) to the state.

Sept 28: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the setting up of a secondary school in Bagan Pinang at a cost of RM20 million within the next two years. RM3.8 million had also been approved to repair 21 schools including Chinese and Tamil schools in the area.

Sept 29: In Bagan Pinang, the Port Dickson District Council gave three terrace houses in Taman Desa Pinang to be used as Bagan Pinang Permata Negara centres, a youth programme mooted by the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor. RM400,000 will be spent on upgrading them.

Oct 4: The Umno information bureau adopted the Bagan Pinang Fishermen's Welfare Association; Isa announces PD Army Town to be given top priority after winning the elections.

Oct 5: The Human Resources Ministry announces that it is organising a training and job placement programme for the youth in Bagan Pinang.

Oct 6: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili announces that Sirim Bhd will provide technical assistance and advisory services for Kampung Baru Si Rusa villagers in Port Dickson to develop ceramic decoration products using hydrostone.

Oct 7: Mohamad Hasan announces RM25 million for construction of 150 units of public housing at Ladang Siliau.

Oct 8: Ahmad Zahid announces the following:

1. Allowances of RM3,000 a year for families with children pursuing their degree, RM2,000 a year for families with children pursuing a diploma and so forth;

2. Veterans Act, if approved, will include health benefits for veterans;

3. Veterans Club House beside the PD Golf Club; An Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) for the children of ex-servicemen in the state. (Mohamad Hassan MB has already agreed to allocate land);

4) Library and Wi-Fi facilities for children of those in the military service and;

5) RM100,000 to upgrade surau in the military area (cheque already presented).

Muhyiddin announces SRJK Tamil Sungai Salak, which has been operating from a two- storey shoplot, will receive a one-hectare plot of land for a school building to be ready in 12 months.

The school has also been upgraded to a fully-government funded school.

Muhyiddin also says that all local councils in the country have been instructed to make it easy for the people to obtain a business licence so as not to stifle their eagerness to venture into business.

He also announces RM480,000 for three Chinese vernacular schools and gave 'ang pow' of RM100 to 223 senior citizens.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim presents aid in the form of micro-computers to six schools from the Bagan Pinang sub-district at Sekolah Kebangsaan Panglima Adnan.

Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam announces that estate workers will get better facilities such as tarred roads, a new community hall, another hall for a temple while drains in the Indian and Chinese cemeteries will be fixed.

A badminton court and photocopy and fax machines will also be provided to a Tamil school. An Estate Workers Housing Aid Fund is additionally proposed.