KOTA BARU: The Barisan Nasional's 514 operations centres in Kelantan will all be opened from next month to gear up for the general election, state Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad said.

He added that he was satisfied with the preparedness of the party's election machinery.

Mustapa also said that he was happy with the positive response of the people towards Barisan following the various people-friendly programmes and projects over the past four years under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“I am confident the people are slowly turning to the Barisan and this has fired up party members to face the crucial general election,” Mustapa told reporters after a meeting with Umno division chiefs here yesterday.

Touching on loyalty to the party, he said everyone from the grassroots to the top leadership must work with a single sense of purpose to wrest control of the state government from PAS.

“Do not rock the boat and cause problems, whether at the branch or division level, especially on the choice of candidates to be fielded in the election.

“We must stand united in our mission to win the mandate of the people and to rule Kelantan, which has long lagged in the mainstream development behind other states,” he said.

Giving his views on the trend to hold demonstrations in the country, Mustapa, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said while the government allowed people to hold peaceful rallies, the gatherings could affect investors' confidence and the nation's economy in the long run.

“In many instances, the organisers had promised peaceful demonstrations but they turned ugly instead,” he said, adding many thorny issues or disputes could be solved peacefully via discussions.

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