Tenom MP: Trust vital to ensure Sabah’s progress
KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah’s development will be possible only if certain quarters do not betray the trust and responsibility given to them, said Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggi.
Certain projects were documented on paper, but the outcomes could not be seen due to deception, said Raime.
He said this during the Dewan Rakyat debate in support of the 2018 Budget on Wednesday.
This followed allegations of misappropriation of federal funds meant for rural development in Sabah.
Another graft case involved the Sabah Water Department, in which RM3.3 billion worth of Federal-funded projects, aimed at boosting clean water supply, were allegedly embezzled.
The case, which came to light in October last year, saw many top officials, engineers and technicians from the department remanded.
“The allocation is there as well as the contractors. The projects were given and the contractors had supposedly received the payment, but nothing is happening onsite.
“Everything is only on paper. There are projects but people still lack roads, water, electricity and houses.”
What disappointed Sabah’s natives more, he said, was the fact that a signboard saying ‘ Rural Water Supply’ provided by the ministry had been at the project site for the last few years, but their water woes continued to be a major issue.
Reported in the Barisan Nasional BBC portal yesterday, Raime said the promises given were false in the end.
“I do not know whether the former minister (Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal) knows whether the houses, roads, water or electricity promised have been delivered.
“I support MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, who is forceful in investigating and prosecuting people who have betrayed their responsibility, abusing the poor.”
Raime praised the efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had been steadfast in calling for development for Sabah.
“The prime minister is gracious in ensuring that the budget for infrastructure and basic amenities for the people of Sabah and Sarawak is maintained.
RM2 billion is allocated for the Pan-Borneo Highway, RM500 million for rural projects, RM620 million for electricity supplies, RM300 million for clean water supplies and many more.”