A PRIME minister’s visit, a RM500 million university hospital and housing projects in Sepanggar underline Barisan Nasional’s seriousness for the federal seat even as Umno minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan played down his interest to be its next MP.

Sepanggar’s current MP is Jumat Idris, who has been suspended from Umno since 2015 for criticising Chief Minister Musa Aman in a Facebook post.

After announcing several allocations and initiatives for Sepanggar, talk has been rife that Rahman, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, would replace Jumat in the next polls.

Rahman, who is also Kota Belud MP, was in Sepanggar today to announce a RM10 million allocation to build a hall in Inanam.

He also said Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit Sepanggar on Friday to announced the construction of a university hospital, said to be in the tune of RM500 million.

“I have to practise a bit of favouritism for Sepanggar because I live here, most of my family is here. I love Kota Belud. I have served as Kota Belud MP for two terms and there are still many things to do.

“But Sepanggar has a huge potential to be developed. The state’s independent power producers are here. The state’s harbour is in Sepanggar.

“This is why I am giving a little bit of priority to Sepanggar. I’m announcing all these allocations for Sepanggar. I am doing my job as I am the minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, and as a Sabahan,” he said.

Umno also holds the Karambunai state seat in the parliamentary constituency. Inanam is under the opposition, through PKR supreme council member Roland Chia.

When pressed by reporters, Rahman said if he was chosen to contest in Sepanggar, he would consult local grassroots leaders on the matter.

“I have previously announced allocations for other districts, such as RM500 million for the development of the Tanjung Aru Eco Development Project (TAED) and allocation for Sandakan airport, but that doesn’t mean I will contest in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan,” he said.

Rahman also announced the establishment of the Sepanggar Consultative Committee to look into the future development of the district.

He said the committee will comprise professors, local Chinese community leaders, petty traders and local heads of religion. – February 25, 2018.