KOTA BAHARU -- Kelantan receives plenty of help from the federal government although the Barisan Nasional (BN) is an opposition in the state, Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamed said.
He said the federal government's assistance was there for all to see.
But due to the lies being spread by the opposition, he said, there were perceptions that Umno and BN had been blocking development projects for the state.
"Those who spread these lies should look at the bridges and roads and airport which they have been using in the state; didn't they know that all these are from the federal government?
"The people see this but unfortunately because there are too many lies being spread against the government, there are perceptions among the people of Kelantan that we have blocked (federal development for the state). It's not true at all," he told Bernama.
Mustapa, who is International Trade and Industry Minister and Kelantan State-Federal Action Council chairman, said among the programmes in Kelantan are the construction of 14 new mosques, and surau and mosque repair, costing over RM40 million since 2005.
Mustapa said there was also an ongoing construction of the 800-metre second Sultan Yahya Petra bridge, costing RM150 million, connecting Kota Baharu and Pasir Pekan, Tumpat, which, when completed this year, would help ease congestion in the area.
Then there is the Tendong bridge project connection Tendong in Pasir Mas and Wakaf Che Yeh in Kota Baharu as well as the Salor bridge project connecting Salor-Pasir Mas, all of which are from the federal government, he said.
The government is also upgrading the Jalan Kubang Kerian-Sabak, costing RM27 million, to expand its capacity in view of the increasing number of vehicles plying the road.
Mustapa said in Bandar Baru Tunjung near here, the federal government had stationed several agencies, a move which helped spur the local economy.
Other projects include the RM85.7 million National Agro-business Terminal, RM20 million state Fire and Rescue Department headquarters, RM18 million Wisma Audit, RM8.76 million Land and Mineral Department office, RM22.1 million Syariah Court Complex and the RM33.1 million State Education Department office.
Mustapa said: "Tunjung would have little if not for the buildings constructed by the federal government. Bandar Baru Tunjung maybe an initiative of the state government but the buildings there are from the federal government."
"If there are spin-offs from all this, they are due to the presence of these government agencies. People should look at the contribution of the federal government."
He said the federal government also spent RM40 million to extend and widen the runway at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, allowing bigger aircraft to land and take off.
"If you go to the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian, you can see that the federal government is extending it and improving the facilities. This involves RM127 million. The same goes to Raja Perempuan Zainab Hospital II, involving an allocation of RM182.17 million," he said.
The government was also building a new operation theatre at the cost of RM9 million at Kuala Krai Hospital, he said.
He called on the people not to be easily influenced by the lies being spread by certain quarters who are out to seek support for the coming general election.
A mandate for the BN in Kelantan would result in more development coming into the state, he said.
"Indeed, Kelantan is receiving plenty of help from the federal government, and people can see this for themselves.
"There is also other forms of assistance such as the RM500 1Malaysia People's Aid, the RM200 Book Vouchers and the RM100 assistance for school students," he said.
