Develop Sabah, S’wak to ensure M’sia achieves developed nation status — PM
KOTA MARUDU: The government needs to develop Sabah and Sarawak to ensure Malaysia achieves a developed nation status, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said if Sabah and Sarawak were lagging behind, particularly in the rural and suburban areas, then it would not be fair to those living in these areas because they too should enjoy the facilities like what they perceived to be when living in a developed nation.
“Because this is what I have in mind to implement these things. If Allah allows me to become prime minister... I will ensure that the development gap for Sabah and Sarawak would continue to be narrowed down.
“That is why every year the allocation for Sabah and Sarawak, that is since I became prime minister, is much bigger than the allocation made by someone who became prime minister for 22 years. That is why in the election campaign this time his (Dr Mahathir’s) face is not seen in Sabah...why doesn’t he come to Sabah? Because the Sabahans know what he had done for 22 years,”he said.
He said this in his speech at the gathering of leaders with the people at the Kota Marudu parliamentary level, here yesterday which was also attended by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also PBS president and the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Tambunan state constituency (DUN), PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili who is also the BN candidate for Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency, the BN candidate for Tandek state constituency Datuk Anita Baranting and the BN candidate for Matunggong state constituency Julita Majunki.
Najib said the Sabahans were now becoming more intelligent and could evaluate who could assist in developing Sabah.
“It is clear that I was given a short notice on the gathering in Kota Marudu, yet thousands of people in Kota Marudu came to gather this afternoon. These are all grassroots supporters and I feel that Kota Marudu will still be in the hands of BN after the 14th general election (GE14).
“Kota Marudu has a Member of Parliament who is a Malaysian cabinet minister. When one is a Malaysian cabinet minister it is easy for him (Ongkili) to bring the letter to me for approval. That is why I have approved the reconstruction of longhouses in the Kota Marudu area... although the Matunggong state seat was lost to the opposition in the last general election, we cannot ignore Mastunggong just like that,”he added.
Najib said Sabah had the potentials to progress further, but the principle of ‘no one left behind’ must be maintained.
“That is why we have to ascertain that the philosophy promoted by the BN under my leadership, the philosophy based on the free economy must still have government intervention. Thus the development under BN must have the elements of carrying... that is, those on top must give an opportunity to those below to progress,” he added.
In this context, Najib urged the people in Kota Marudu to continue to support the BN because only this party could transform the future to become better.
“That is why we must retain Putrajaya and the same goes for Sabah too. Thus, I want the Kota Marudu constituents to ensure victory for all BN candidates contesting in the Kota Marudu Parliamentary constituency. I also want Kota Murudu Umno division head, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda to help in ensuring all BN candidates in the parliamentary constituency emerge as victors.
Najib said after the GE14 the government would increase the allocation by RM21 million to resolve the traffic congestion in the district.
“I received his (Ongkili’s) manifesto for Kota Marudu... one of the manifestos is to resolve the traffic congestion... I will also give an allocation for a sports complex here after the general election... we know that the BN always fulfilled its promises.
“Thus the people must remember... what do you get when you elect the opposition... we will certainly not get any benefit because we want to be part of a big family in order to gain any benefit,”he added. Bernama