Parti Warisan Sabah’s claim of becoming a prime player if the opposition wins the 14th General Election will be a pipe dream, as it is now a puppet of the Tun Mahathir Mohamadled Pakatan Harapan.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman said it was ironic for Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to talk about championing the needs of the people when he failed to deliver his responsibility, in his ministry and even in his own constituency, while he was still a Federal Cabinet Minister.

He said it was very hypocritical of Shafi e to now suddenly champion the issue of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and not when he was in a position of authority while he was in government, and working closely with those who walked within the corridors of power like Muhyiddin.

“Now suddenly he wants to save Sabah for Sabahans to resolve the MA63 issue.

He is now working with Mahathir, the very person who failed the people of Sabah for the 22 years when he was in office as the Prime Minister by not recognising the signifi cance of Malaysia Day let alone speak of the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said after visiting the Batu Putih polling district centre here on Saturday.

Musa said when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took over offi ce as the Prime Minister, he gave recognition to Malaysia Day on Sept 16 by declaring it a national holiday.

He even called for the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the large presence of immigrants in Sabah and agreed to the establishment of a high level committee on fi nding a resolve to issues on MA63.

”Najib even declared that whatever rights taken away, either knowingly or unknowingly, will be returned. Did Mahathir or Muhyiddin ever speak on this before,” he asked.

“Now Shafie wants to find an end to the MA63 issue within a short period of time.

He is just playing to the gallery to fool the people and gain political mileage to chase his dream.”

Musa said Shafi e wanted to save Sabah for Sabahans but strangely was cooperating with Mahathir who said the people of Sabah were not hard working albeit lazy, which was why the state lagged behind.

The Chief Minister said when Shafie was the Rural and Regional Development Minister, he was entrusted with a major task to bring more development across the country, including Sabah, but instead the ministry became entangled with a series of mismanagement issues – particularly over funds totalling RM7.5 billion allocated by the government for rural development in the state during his tenure and allegations of corruption involving Mara.

“He should probably take a look at uncompleted rural development projects including those in his own constituency Semporna during his tenure as minister,” he said.

Musa said Shafie should not confuse quiet diplomacy and bringing issue to the table for discussion with being subservient to the Federal government and the Prime Minister.

He said fostering closer relations with the Federal government had paved the way for him to bring Sabah’s issues and development needs for discussions with Najib thereby allowing him to request for large allocations for socio economic development and high impact projects in the state.

“Do all these actions, which have greatly benefitted the people and the state, shows that I am subservient to Najib?

Does someone banging on the table and making fiery speeches about Sabah for Sabahans love Sabah more and will achieve more for the State?” he asked.

Musa also questioned Shafie about wanting to develop downstream processing of oil palm with a formula to be implemented by Warisan if it comes into power.

“Maybe he is unaware that such an initiative is already in place because he failed to actually go down the ground when he was still in Barisan Nasional, he failed to notice how big the Lahad Datu Palm Oil Industrial Cluster or POIC is,” he said.

He said Shafie was oblivious to what was going on in Sabah when he was a Federal Minister possibly because he only shuttled back and forth between Kuala Lumpur and Semporna.

He added that Shafie’s veiled belittling of the State Administrative Centre reflected his lack of understanding of the significance to Sabah, adding that the building was constructed not only for the present administration, but also for future administrators.

Musa said the Chief Minister’s Department had never had a dedicated building and had always been housed in other buildings belonging to other entities.

“The State Administrative Building is a symbol of the State Government and is something the people should be proud of instead of running it down,” he said.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by The Borneo Post

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