The people of Selangor are ready to return to the BN fold after three years of "torture" under Pakatan Rakyat, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the BN State Assembly Backbenchers Club's three-day retreat in Selangor at SMK Meru, Muhyiddin said this was expressed to him by the people in the state.

NONE “(A man told me) 'I want the election to be called soon, so I can vote for BN because I feel tortured living under the rule of Pakatan in Selangor'. Sorry, I'm campaigning now...,” he said.

He said even though Pakatan was in power in Selangor, the BN federal government had never abandoned the people of the state, and would come to the rescue wherever Pakatan had failed.

“If they don't pay attention to the social needs, of health needs or in any areas at all, BN remains committed to fill this void left by Pakatan as best we can.

“We don't want the people to be neglected, without assistance and support, without basic amenities,” he said to cheers from the gathering.

To prove BN's commitment, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, announced that the government has allocated a whopping RM29 million to build a school in the area, which will be called SMK Bukit Kapar.

The school, which will cater to 5,000 students, was not planned for in the Budget 2011 announcement, but is in the second rolling plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Homestay good way to win support

Muhyiddin also lauded the retreat, which saw 170 BN state assemblypersons from across the nation bunk in with families in Selangor to get closer to the rakyat,

Calling such an approach an important 'touch point' to win back the people's support, the deputy PM said staying in the houses of ordinary people did not cost a lot of money, but provided good returns.

“(The hosts) feel happy and will remember this their whole lives, and will vote for BN forever,” he said.

He said such an approach could also help BN leaders keep abreast of the sentiments of the grassroots, and was not as costly as “tea parties ( majlis minum )” which are “normal” for BN leaders, albeit not compulsory. 

NONE The event today was also part of a Hari Raya gathering involving the people of Meru, which is currently held by PAS assemblyperson Abdul Rani Osman, who was also spotted at the event.

Outside the school compound, PAS and BN component parties engaged in what looked like a flag war, akin to an election campaign.

Besides banners from local BN divisions welcoming Muhyiddin, Abdul Rani and other Pakatan leaders also raised banners to welcome the deputy premier.

Muhyiddin has previously used schools as venues for political events, such as in Lembah Jaya, Ampang, earlier this year.

He has, however, dismissed claims of abuse of power, saying that it was “normal” for him, as deputy prime minister to champion the government in power.

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