Najib visits Siti Khadijah market in bid to woo traders

KOTA BAHARU, Jan 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit to the Siti Khadijah Market, here, has boosted the spirit of 2,500 traders to pick Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election.

Generally, the traders regarded his effort to meet them face-to-face for the first time at the market as a very meaningful and historical occasion.

Najib spent 45 minutes meeting the traders on the first and second floors at the market from 9.15am in conjunction with his one-day working visit to the state today.

International Trade and Industry minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin also accompanied him.

Najib then had breakfast of ‘nasi dagang’ with tuna, boiled egg in a traditional gravy dish and traditional cakes at Paksu Cafe at the Siti Khadijah Market Square.

Prior to this, he handed over the RM100 Early Schooling Aid for 2013 to students at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Wakaf Baharu, Tumpat and launched a “Promises Kept” programme at Tunjung, here.

Siti Khadijah Market Traders Association chairman Mohd Rodzi Che Hussein said the Prime Minister’s unexpected presence at the market is very meaningful and could shift the minds of the people in terms of political inclination.

“It is a new scenario towards the transformation of the government at the national and state levels,” he said. “The Prime Minister’s action in meeting the people and having a casual breakfast can inject a fresh spirit towards changes in the government specifically in Kelantan,” he said.

Che Rodzi said during the breakfast, the Prime Minister had given his assurance to implement a project to renovate and upgrade the Siti Khadijah Market if BN win in Kelantan in the general election.

The association, which has two affiliates, one representing retailers and food operators and the other fish mongers, has about 2,500 members.

One of the traders,  Azizah Yusoff, 37, said she hoped the traders’ wish to have more comfortable trading space would become a reality with the help of the federal government. Marhani Awang, 52, a vegetable trader there, said it was the most exciting day for her since trading at the market the last 15 years as she got to meet the prime minister in person.

“The BN government under the leadership of Najib has clearly brought about much changes for the better in keeping with its People First, Performance Now and Promises Kept slogans,” she said. — Bernama

(Source: The Malaysian Insider)