SIK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's arrival in the rural areas of this state has drawn significant attention as he opted to use a helicopter, including for programs in Jeneri and Kupang last night.
This choice of helicopter transport also garnered criticism from caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, during his campaign speech, where he suggested that the Prime Minister should be able to use other ground transportation options.
Responding to the criticism, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, emphasised his right to utilise this facility due to his position as the Prime Minister.
"They got upset when I took a helicopter to Jeneri. Why use a helicopter? Well, this helicopter belongs to the government.
"It's the government's. Hang (you in Kedah lingo) can't use it, the Prime Minister can," he said during his speech at the Segalanya FELDA event held at FELDA Felda Teloi Timur yesterday.
In addition to the helicopter used by Anwar, two more helicopters were observed landing in the public field near the event venue.
The Felda Teloi Timur area falls under the Jeneri State Legislative Assembly seat, which will see Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor defending it. Sanusi also holds the position of election director for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in the upcoming State General Election (PRN) on August 12.
For the record, he won the seat for the first time in 2018 and will face a one-on-one contest against the Barisan Nasional candidate, Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim, who is also the chief of the UMNO Sik Division.