‘Najib more influential in Sabah, Sarawak than Dr M’

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s open attitude in tackling national and local issues in Sabah and Sarawak means his influence is now more than that of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the latter’s era.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Faculty of Social Sciences lecturer Dr Arnold Puyok yesterday said the people of Sabah and Sarawak knew Dr Mahathir as someone who prioritised the centralisation of power and had set aside the interests of the states’ people.

“If you compare Dr Mahathir with Najib, Sabahans and Sarawakians prefer Najib... He not only frequently visits Sabah and Sarawak, but also listens to the views of leaders of both states about issues concerning powers of autonomy and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.”

Arnold was speaking during a panel discussion on Sabah and Sarawak issues at a pre-general election roundtable discussion by the National Council of Professors, titled “BN to stay or...?”.

Panel members included the council’s Political, Security and Foreign Affairs Cluster deputy chief Professor Dr Jayum Jawan, Unimas political lecturer Associate Professor Dr Jeniri Amir and Universiti Malaysia Sabah Faculty of Humanities, Art and Heritage senior lecturer Dr Zaini Othman.

Jeniri said based on studies involving some 90 per cent of the people in Sarawak, about 60 per cent of voters supported Najib as prime minister.

“This is a surprise, considering the many accusations made against Najib.

“When I asked some people, they said it was because of Najib’s commitment, having visited 126 places in Sarawak in the 59 times he has gone to the state since 2008.

“Also, things like 1Malaysia People’s Aid, or BR1M, are lethal weapons (to win over the people).”

Jayum said voters should not be swayed by the opposition’s arguments that the government needed to be brought down to effect change.

“Does it mean that if the government is not changed, then there will be no change at all?”