Najib Says Heart Lies with Tobacco Farmers

Source from:  nst.com.my By Alina Simon and Sulaiman Jaafar 03/03/2008

If his father was known as the "father of development", Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak nearly got a moniker of his own for helping tobacco farmers here yesterday. "Bapa Tembakau" or "father of tobacco" was proposed by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin yesterday during a gathering with more than 4,000 farmers in Kampung Aur, Telong, here. They would have faced a bleak future following industry revamps. Awang Adek, the aspiring Kelantan menteri besar, said Najib approved an allocation of funds to help them switch to other crops. "There is no need to call me 'Bapa Tembakau'. My heart is with the farmers who may be displaced. "Awang Adek earlier said he was ashamed to seek funds constantly for the farmers but that means that he cares," he said during the first engagement of his one-day visit to Kelantan yesterday. A bemused Najib later announced that the price of tobacco of RM13.80 per kilo would be maintained for another four years. This was in response to the farmers' request. Later, Najib related Awang Adek's rags-to-riches story at a people's gathering in SMK Kubang Kerian 2, Kota Baru. "If he had not taken up the education opportunities provided by the BN government, he would have followed his father's footsteps and become a fisherman today. "That's where he would have ended up if he did not have the ambition and drive to improve himself. "The BN has approved RM7.6 billion for Kelantan, plus a special manifesto for the state on its plan to develop the state but it is up to the people to respond." He urged the Kelantanese to give BN a chance to prove its sincerity and deliver on its promises. Later, Najib said the in-fighting in the state Umno had been resolved. "I've advised the members to support all our candidates if they want to change Kelantan." On the 200,000 Kelantanese working outside the state, he said they played an important role in convincing their families and communities to vote for change. "We are convinced the outstation voters share our aspiration to see Kelantan enjoy the same kind of development as in other states." Najib also received the applications of more than 200 Pas supporters to join Umno. Enditem