Upgraded train services if Warisan forms govt – Shafie

TENOM: The train services system, including its infrastructure, will be upgraded if Parti Warisan Sabah forms the government after the 14th General Election, said party president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal here.

He said a good service and infrastructure system will provide comfort to commuters who use the train service.

“Sabah has been with Malaysia for 54 years but the impact of infrastructure development is still in colonial times (1950s),” he said at the People's Friendly program attended by about 2,000 people at Kampung Ulloi here on Saturday.

Shafie recounted the condition of the train service that he experienced when his entourage came here by train from Beaufort to Tenom to attend the event which took more than two hours.

“The situation gets worse on reaching the Pangi station. Before arriving in Tenom, the train carriages were damaged and the air conditioner was not working, forcing passengers to move to other carriages.

“So this is the pride of the state government leadership for its people. Why is it that the central government can afford to spend billions of ringgit to build a fasttrack rail line between Kuala Lumpur to Tumpat in Kelantan but not for Sabah?” he said.

Shafie also said the detention of Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) two days ago would not weaken the party because Peter is not guilty until it was proven by the court.

He reiterated his earlier statement that his party had nothing to do with any form of charge as the companies and contractors under investigation did not belong to him, but he received recognition from the National Key Performance Index (NKPI) from the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak because his performance as Regional and Rural Development Minister since 2009, 2012 and 2013 was very good.

He said it was unfortunate that the Sabah Water Department scandal had not been resolved after being investigated by the MACC and the parties concerned were now trying to associate his name as well.

However, Shafie said that he would give full cooperation to the MACC if required.

Shafie and his entourage also met the Chinese community at a hotel here after the event.