GEORGE TOWN (April 12): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Datuk Seri Najib Razak today launched 12 health projects in Penang valued at RM1.4 billion.

They included several projects at the Penang Hospital, such as a specialist clinic block, maternity ward, women's block, children's block and hospital quarters.

Other projects included the construction of the Kepala Batas Nurses College in Bertam and the Bandar Perda Health Clinic, and the upgrading of the Seberang Jaya Hospital, the centralised air conditioning system operation theatre and electrical system at Bukit Mertajam Hospital, and the emergency and outpatient department at Balik Pulau Hospital.

Speaking at a meet-the-people session in Balik Pulau, Najib also announced that the toll for motorcycles on Penang Bridge would be abolished if Barisan Nasional (BN) wrests control of the state in the May 9 general election.

Najib, who is BN chairman, said the federal government has allocated up to RM4 billion for Penang in the last five years.

"I will allocate more for bigger developments in Balik Pulau, but you will have to wait until we win (in the election) first. For now, I will allocate RM10.5 million for the building of an overhead pedestrian bridge in Kampung Seronok.

"In the Penang BN manifesto, there are allocations for RM65,000 houses, but you have to let me win first," he said.

Najib also took a jibe at Pakatan Harapan which wants to 'save' Malaysia.

"Save Malaysia from what? Our gross domestic product was 5.9% in 2017, one of the best among all countries. Our ringgit is among the strongest after rising to about 3.86 against the US dollar, from 4.4 previously. Our debt-to-GDP ratio is down to 50.8% from 55%, and foreign reserves have risen to US$104 billion from US$20 billion during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era. We are better off now than before," he said.

Najib also said it was Mahathir, currently the Pakatan Harapan chairman, who introduced tolled highways but now wants to abolish them.

"I did not introduce them and I did not increase the toll rates, but where are they (Pakatan Harapan) going to get RM380 billion to compensate (the concessionaires)?" he said.

The prime minister also defended the 1Malaysia Peoples' Aid (BR1M) programme.

"This is our agenda, to help people. In the US, about 45 million of its 300 million population depend on food stamps to sustain.

We have increased BR1M by 100% to RM800 which will be helpful during Hari Raya. We can afford to give because our government is well-managed. We will increase it if you vote us again," he added.

According to Najib, the people in Penang suffered from floods and "high cost" of water. He was referring to the hike in the water surcharge for usage of above 35,000 litres of water.

"Water cost has gone up four times, and you face floods. In Selangor, you get pails (owing to water rationing). On top of that, 51 promises were not fulfilled by the Penang government since 2008 but 39 hillslope developments were approved during that time.

"In contrast, we have met 99.4% of our promises in the past five years," he said.

Najib urged the people not to trust Mahathir as he allegedly does not take responsibility for what he does, like the detention of activists and politicians under the Internal Security Act.

"He said it was not him who arrested them but the police, and so he was not responsible. He said this while seated next to Parti Amanah Nasional president Mohamed Sabu who was detained under ISA, and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim whose husband was also a detainee.

"How then can he say that he was not involved although the police arrested them? Of course he is responsible. I know this because I am a prime minister. One must take responsibility," said Najib.