KOTA BELUD (March 24): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today hinted of a change in the political landscape of the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency.

“We will see a change in the political landscape here because we have three lions in Kota Belud. One of them will be a lion elsewhere and that lion will bring about a lot of changes.

“Since there are only two lions left, one will continue to be with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak while the other will continue to be in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said at a gathering with Kota Belud residents in Kampung Kesapang here yesterday.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is also Kota Belud Member of Parliament, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.

According to Ahmad Zahid, the lion that would leave Kota Belud (and contest in another area) had brought so much development to the area since becoming the elected representative in the constituency for two terms.

“I have seen the performance of the lion who will be leaving us. For two terms as member of parliament, he has brought in allocations of not less than RM987 million,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also announced an allocation of RM3 million for drainage projects to solve flood issues, RM5 million for deepening of the Kadamaian River in Kampung Tambotuon and for the construction of a new district mosque in Kota Belud.