PRIME Minister Najib Razak today announced an RM8.5 million allocation to upgrade Penampang’s popular Donggongon market.

Najib, who is on a two-day visit to Sabah, visited the market as part of his itinerary in the state.

He is expected to visit the interior division of Nabawan, as well as Kota Marudu, tomorrow.

Najib was seen talking to stall operators, and tried durian and a local fruit known as “tarap” at the weekly market.

“I have visited Penampang to meet the people. I want the people here to know that the Barisan Nasional government is concerned about their well-being.

“We are providing the allocation for the comfort of visitors and business operators at the market.

“We want to hear the people’s problems and find ways to deal with them, even though Penampang has yet to come under BN rule,” he said at Buhavan Square after his hour-long walkabout.

Darell Leiking, formerly of PKR, beat the candidate from BN component party United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), Bernard Dompok, in the 13th general election.

Leiking left the party in 2015, and is now Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president.

Present during Najib’s walkabout were Chief Minister Musa Aman, Upko president Madius Tangau, Liberal Democratic Party president Teo Chee Kong and newly appointed Senator John Ambrose.

Despite Penampang being under the opposition, said Najib, the BN government had not stopped allocating funds for developments in the area, citing as an example a RM280 million allocation to carry out flood-mitigation projects.

“There will be more funds if BN is given the mandate in Penampang.

“BN has a proven record in bringing about development, and billions of ringgit have been approved for Sabah since I became prime minister in 2009.

“The BN government is the only government that can realise the aspirations of the Transformasi Nasional 2050 initiative. We have big dreams and big aspirations to transform Malaysia into a modern country.”

He thanked Musa for pushing numerous developments, under BN, in Sabah.

Some 3,000 Penampang residents turned up during Najib’s visit to the market. – January 18, 2018.