Shafie failed during tenure as minister, claims Raime

TENOM: Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal had failed to discharge his responsibilities when he was the Rural and Regional Development Minister for six years, claimed Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggie.

Raime further alleged the allocation of billions of ringgit by the Federal Government to develop the rural areas was wasted as the projects did not meet the targets and needs of the people.

“Development projects, especially those implemented in Sabah have many problems and received negative feedback from the people,” he said.

Raime also said that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) under Shafie did not discuss or inform him as a representative of the people in the Tenom parliamentary constituency when it implemented and planned any development plans in Tenom.

“This has happened in many places in my area, so we the people's representatives in this district are blamed for not developing the rural areas, especially infrastructure development such as road construction that do not reach the target groups,” he charged at the Tenom Wanita Umno delegates meeting on Saturday.

He said among the projects that did not reach the target groups and did not meet the required standards were the KemabongMarais and Ulu Tomani and Bakuku roads.

“He (Shafie) is with Parti Warisan today that was established with a desire to defend the fate of the people of Sabah. But what the people need to know and realize is that it is all for personal interest only and not for Sabahans.

“The slogan ‘Sabah For Sabahan' is his political story to achieve sympathy and attention from the people of Sabah that he is the one who really wants to fight for the rights and fate of Sabahans, but during his time as KKLW minister what had he done?” he said.

Shafie is now leading Parti Warisan Sabah and is planning to contest all the seats in the state in the coming 14th general election.

Meanwhile, Tenom Wanita Umno head Datuk Rahmahjan Sulaiman Khan urged the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to retain Raime and Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang as candidates in the coming general election.

Rahmahjan said the two leaders were still the choice of the multi-racial and multi religious people in Tenom and Kemabong.