Former Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has claimed that the state needs to regain the development momentum achieved during the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
The BN deputy chairman said progress in Negri Sembilan had slowed after the coalition lost control of the state government in 2018.
He questioned the level of development achieved despite the state’s strategic location near major economic hubs such as Kuala Lumpur, the airport and Port Klang.
“Negri Sembilan is close to Kuala Lumpur, the airport and Port Klang, yet there is almost nothing to show for it.
“Two terms of administration only resulted in ribbon-cutting ceremonies, without real transformation,” he said while speaking at a community gathering in Angsa Mas during the state election campaign.
Mohamad, popularly known as Tok Mat, said the people of Negri Sembilan deserved stronger economic growth and more meaningful development.
He claimed the state’s per capita income ranking remained behind neighbouring states such as Melaka, adding that its economic growth over the past five years had failed to keep pace with national growth.
According to him, BN had previously prepared the 30-year Negeri Sembilan Development and Modernisation Plan 2015-2045 aimed at strengthening the state’s economy.
However, he said the plan could not be fully implemented after BN failed to retain power in the 2018 general election.
Mohamad added that BN must regain control of the Negri Sembilan government to continue the development agenda planned for the state.
He made the remarks while campaigning ahead of the upcoming Negri Sembilan state election, where development issues remain among the key topics raised by competing parties.
