GERAK Independent co-founder Tawfik Ismail has solidified his conquest into the stronghold of UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi by unveiling plans to establish Bagan Datuk Development Corporation (BDDC) for folks in the constituency.
This is in tandem with his vision to realise the economic improvement agenda outlined in his political campaign for the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat.
Aimed at improving the living standards and wealth of the Bagan Datuk populace, the son of Malaysia’s second deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman said all Bagan Datuk residents over the age of 18 will automatically qualify as shareholders of BDDC.
“This model is built on a model which emphasises on equitable growth and shared prosperity,” explained the 71 year-old former Sungai Benut MP.
“BDDC will leverage the area’s strength – namely agriculture and fisheries – by granting its shareholders a greater share of the more profitable downstream production through the participation in manufacturing and processing.”
Additionally, BDDC also aims to be a catalyst for tourism in Bagan Datuk by establishing a Tropical Rare Fruits & Herbal Agropark and other such attractions.
Economic function aside, BDDC will also strive to improve local infrastructure. It will also look after the residents by setting up a fund for health, welfare and education.
“I hope BDDC could be a blueprint for equitable development for other constituencies in Malaysia,” he added.
Recall that Tawfik has decided to contest for the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat as an independent candidate despite attempts to get him to contest under Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) ticket. This came about following PH’s decision to field Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Akin from PKR as its candidate for Bagan Datuk.
“I am using the key symbol and I hope that will be the key to success and to a better Malaysia,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying during nomination day on Nov 5.
“Zahid Hamidi is standing here and he faces a lot of corruption charges and he wants to be the prime minister of this country. I can’t allow him to do it because we need to get ourselves back into a more respectable position in world affairs.”
Tawfik, Zahid and Shamsul will be engaged in a four-cornered fight which also involved Bersatu-Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Dr Muhammad Faiz Na’aman. – Nov 17, 2022
Main photo credit: Malaysiakini
