The people have been told against listening and following some leaders who are like fruit bats and flying foxes, only seasonally going to the ground to serve them.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said such leaders would come visiting when the fruits were in season and would disappear when the season was over.

He said this when officiating at the annual Limbang Malay community's "Pesta Badudun" (coming together to strengthen ties, unity and cooperation) and buffalo race at SK Kampung Gadong, near here, today.

"Barisan Nasional leaders are not fruit bats or flying foxes. They will always be on the ground to serve the people.

"If is immaterial to them if the state or general election is around the corner. They will come all the time, not like these other leaders who will soon come because of the state election," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said it was this excellent track record of service that had allowed BN to remain in power since its formation in 1974.

"Now we have people wanting to topple or change the government because they accuse it of having stayed in power for too long.
"But changing a government is not like changing your car or shirt."

He said some of those involved included a leader of the BN government for two decades.

"He seems to have forgotten that he had also been instrumental in bringing the nation and people to the current great progress and development as a result of this continuity in fine leadership," he said.

Ahmad Zahid assured that under the BN government, there would be equal opportunities for all to develop and prosper, and government attention would not be based on any specific place or region in the country.

"We will continue to focus on balanced development in both urban and rural areas. Those from the rural areas who excel in education will have even better opportunities to go far in life," he said.

With the upcoming 11th Sarawak State Election, he called on the people to continue giving their fullest support to Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and the "Adenan's Team".

"Adenan is a good leader who untirelessly fights for the state's issues and brings up the people's aspirations and hopes with a loud and clear voice.

"We in the central government listen to him," he said.

At the event, Ahmad Zahid announced government grants of RM500,000 to the Limbang Malays Association and RM350,000 to the Kampung Gadong community hall constructiion fund, besides a personal donation of RM10,000 to finance the next buffalo race.

He said as Home Minister, he would study their request for the construction of a CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) post between Pendam, near here, and Lumapas on the Brunei Darussalam border.