By Adib Zalkapli and Boo Su-Lyn (Malaysian Insider)
HULU SELANGOR, April 2 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) presented voters here with news today that the government will soon build four new schools as the campaign for votes kicked into gear in the constituency.
In a dialogue with some 500 teachers from the largely rural constituency, the DPM, who is also the education minister, said three primary schools, including one currently under construction, and one secondary school will be built in the area.
He added that the ministry is also in the process of identifying a suitable site for a Chinese school.
“I am not here to campaign, I will campaign to the teachers in my next visit, but I just want to inform you that the Election Commission had decided April 17 as nomination day and April 25 for polling so please write that down in your diary,” said Muhyiddin at the dialogue held at Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor.
“Better still write in your diary that you will vote Barisan Nasional,” he added.
Soon after the dialogue, Muhyiddin who is BN’s election director, visited a village in Batang Kali where he announced an allocation of RM2 million for a flood mitigation project.
“I hope after this project, the Public Works Department will ensure that the disaster will not occur again,” he said in his speech to villagers from Kampung Sentosa.
Muhyiddin also presented gifts to flood victims from the village.
Also present at the campaign stops were MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Noh Omar and Hulu Selangor Umno division chief Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar.
The Hulu Selangor by-election was called following the death of PKR’s Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad last week.
In Election 2008 Zainal defeated BN’s Palanivel by 198 votes.
Palanivel is expected to be fielded again by the coalition despite pressure from Umno for a candidate from the Malay party to represent BN.
PKR has more than ten names on its list of potential candidates and the party’s supreme council will decide on the matter at its meeting this Sunday.