KEPALA BATAS: The Barisan Nasional government has never neglected the rural population and always strived to improve the infrastructure in the countryside, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He said the government would put to good use the votes the people entrusted to BN.

As long as the people continued to support BN, the government would continue to implement infrastructure projects for their benefit.

Abdullah said an example of what the government had done for the people was the completion of the RM19 million Pinang Tunggal bridge-and-road project.

"Support the BN government and we will continue to implement projects that will benefit you.
"We will never neglect the people, especially those in the rural areas. This is our pledge," he said at the opening of the Pinang Tunggal bridge and road here yesterday.

Present was his wife Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

The bridge and road were built in two phases.

The first involved the construction of the 200m bridge at a cost of RM11.2 million. It was completed in May 2004.

The second phase involved the construction of a 1.9km road, of which 1.7km was in Pinang Tunggal, Penang, at a cost of RM7.8 million. It was completed in May last year.

Abdullah said the BN government would ensure more opportunities were made available to the people, particularly in business start-ups.

"Just like in our planning for the Northern Corridor Economic Region and similar corridor developments, we always ensure more opportunities are given to the people," he said.

Later, at a dinner function with the Indian community at Dewan Millenium here, Abdullah said the government was serious about addressing issues facing the community.

He reiterated that the government was not just making empty promises.

"We have stated clearly in the BN manifesto that the government will pay attention to all the issues raised.

"There will be specific programmes to help the Indian community," he said, adding that the government would ensure no community was left behind as the country progressed.

source: The New Straits Times