Part of RM150 million allocation will be used to install bailey bridges in flood-hit areas in Johor

BAGAN DATUK - The Cabinet has decided that part of the additional allocation of RM150 million announced yesterday will be used for the construction of Bailey bridges in flood-affected areas in Johor.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the construction involved collapsed roads including in Sekijang.

"Its MP has told me the need for a Bailey bridge (there).

"The district-level coordinating committee will be able to install the Bailey bridge before the repairs and upgrading of the roads are completed," he told reporters at the Bagan Datuk Umno division delegates meeting here today.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ordered all government machinery to help in post-flood operations in Johor and approved an additional allocation of RM150 million for this.

Umno elections are being held from Feb 1 to March 18, with the branch-level elections being held from Feb 1 to 26, followed by the elections for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings at the national level on March 11.

The party divisional delegates' meetings and committee elections, as well as contests for seats in the Umno Supreme Council, will be held simultaneously nationwide today.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid expressed hope that the elected MT members will be able to strengthen the party. He also stressed that Umno needs to embrace digitalisation, to gain the support of voters including new ones.

"My hope is that we choose the best candidates among the best so that we don't make the wrong choice this time even though I celebrate the difference of views and opinions, we should not differ in our views when the party makes decisions, especially big decisions.

"Now we are in the Unity Government and we support the concept of Malaysia Madani. We are part of the government.

He said that the compatibility between Umno and the component parties of Barisan Nasional, together with the parties supporting the Unity Government, began to show positive development at the national, parliamentary and state constituency levels as well as at the PDM (district polling centre) and locality levels.

Touching on his daughter Datuk Nurulhidayah who failed to win the Bagan Datuk UMNO Wanita chief post in the elections, Ahmad Zahid said the results proved that there was no interference at all levels. - BERNAMA