CARETAKER prime minister Najib Razak has promised padi farmers a bonus on result night if Barisan Nasional wins the general election.

He said the the agriculture ministry had set aside the sum for the farmers, who would receive the bonus as soon as it was announced that BN had won.

“I have asked the agriculture ministry to prepare several options, so that that night (May 9) itself I will announce the additional rates for padi farmers,” he said in a speech at meeting with farmers in Pekan.

It was Najib’s first speech after the start of the official campaign period today.

He asked the Pekan constituents to give BN the ruling mandate so that the country would grow even more prosperous.

“What we ask for a mandate for five years; this coming five years we will bring Malaysia to greater heights.

“This election will decide the future of our beloved Malaysia. The future of Malaysians hangs in the 14th general elections.”

The Pekan MP pledged to give the padi farmers RM600 over three months.

Najib also pledged RM2,500 to each flood victim in Pekan.

“The rate is about RM2,500 for each person. If we add that to the RM600, that means each one of you would receive RM3,100 after this,” he said, adding that the money would be deposited into the individual bank accounts or paid in cash.

Najib said there needed to be a more equitable distribution of wealth so that the farmers were not left out in the march to progress.

“The padi farmers need the most help. I want everyone to achieve progress.”

He said if Pekan folk did not vote for BN, they would lose the benefits they enjoyed, such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) which had been fixed at RM2,000 this year.

“If you want BR1M, we are the choice. The opposition has condemned BR1M as ‘dedak’ but their manifesto has BR1M. They U-turn a lot.” – April 28, 2018.