Terengganu voters want election manifesto pledges kept

KUALA TERENGGANU: Now that the state election is over, voters in Terengganu are looking forward to Perikatan Nasional fulfilling the pledges in their manifesto.

Husni Rashid, 45, is looking forward to the state government’s plan to widen the coastal road connecting Kemaman in the south to Besut in the north.

He said this would be beneficial for someone like him who often travelled along that stretch.

“I live and operate my business here in the capital but my family’s hometown is in Besut. A road upgrade would be great,” said the trader in the Pulau Warisan night market here.

Sales and marketing executive Sarah Safiah Marzalan, 28, agreed, saying that it would make her weekly journey from Kemaman to the capital even smoother.

Sarah

“I like taking the coastal road to my workplace in Kuala Terengganu because the view is just breathtaking and relaxing,” she said, hoping that the road would help to reduce traffic congestion during festive holidays.

Under the 10-point manifesto by Perikatan, of which PAS is a member, they include offers such as spiritual development, youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure development.

The manifesto promises that upgrading works on the coastal road into a dual carriageway will be completed.

During Saturday’s polls, Perikatan clinched all 32 seats contested, wiping out its rivals from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.

With the victory, the PAS-led coalition will lead the oil-rich state government for another term.Besides the infrastructure project, Sarah said the rakyat would benefit from the welfare initiatives mooted by Perikatan.

Ahmad Hanif

She said, for example, that more people would be able to afford motorcycles under the interest-free loan offered by the state government, which they could then use to commute to work.

“For some people, maybe this initiative is not as impactful but I believe many will benefit from it.

“It would increase their mobility, allow them to move from one district to another, and stimulate economic activities,” she said.

Raymond

Ahmad Hanif Muhamad, 29, from Dungun, said with microbusinesses flourishing in his area in recent years, more people were in need of entrepreneurship-related assistance.

“The allocation to fund youth to start their own businesses is very good. For people of my generation, we also want to start our own businesses.

“I hope that with such assistance from the state government, this would help encourage economic growth in our constituency as well as the state,” he said.

The state’s Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) member Raymond Gan said the grant would encourage more youths to start their own businesses.

However, he said the initiative would be even more effective if there was also a comprehensive guide for youths to manage their finances.

“A proper course to guide youth to make use of the money will be great as they can manage the cash flow of their businesses. The state government can provide training by introducing successful industry players to guide them.”