PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Ab Rahman has called for the functions of the Federal Development Department (JPP) to be reinstated for the benefit of the party’s division and branch chiefs nationwide.
He said that by doing so, the leaders would be able to secure more projects, with the funds going back to their respective communities.
“By reinstating the function of the JPP, all development projects can be channeled to the division and branch chiefs, hence giving them sufficient funds for them to carry out programmes in their areas,” he said in his winding up speech at the Bersatu general assembly.
He said in order for Bersatu’s division and branch chiefs to secure victory in the 15th general election (GE15), more powerful weapons are needed.
“If we received help from a ‘tsunami’ (in the form of God’s grace that led to victory) during the last general election, will the ‘tsunami’ come again to help us in GE15, without any effort to approach the people?
“Looking at the current state, we will not be able to defend our victory as the division and branch chiefs are left without any help,” he said, to which he received loud applause from the delegates.
Rashid, who is also the Federal government’s Election Reform Committee (ERC) chairman, said he is also a division chief but is lucky that he has a “big salary.”
“I am a division chief too, but I was lucky as (Bersatu chairman) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave me a job and big salary, hence I am able to take care of my division.
“Division and branch chiefs must get more money so that they can do more. For example, in Kelantan and Terengganu, the JPP must be reinstated.
“Our people must be given all the development projects by the Federal government,” he said, expressing hope that his suggestion would be heard by the party leaders.
In his speech, Rashid also touched on how to gain Malay support using the electoral system.
He said the Cabinet’s approval of the move to lower the voting age to 18 would help increase the number of Malay voters from four million to six million.
“With the voting age set at 18, we will have six million Malay voters from the current four million voters, and eight million voters in total (including first-time voters).
“Therefore, we must plan on how to win the hearts of eight million voters, so that we can continue to remain in power,” he said.
