Time will prove the critics wrong – Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday gave the assurance that critics who lambasted him for holding on to the State Finance Minister’s post would in time be proven wrong.

He likened the Finance Ministry to a car.

“If something is wrong with the car, the blame should be on the driver and not the car itself. Don’t blame the car. I have already reiterated that you can’t blame the car.

“This is not the fault of the ministry, this is the fault of the ‘driver’. We will prove the critics wrong in the years ahead,” he told reporters at his office after meeting with state government department heads yesterday.

On whether he would control the ministry only temporarily, Mohd Shafie replied, “we will see”.

Asked about key areas that the three new ministries under his government would focus on, the chief minister said some structural changes needed to be done to facilitate delivery of the aspirations of the people.

On the police report lodged by Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin against his (Mohd Shafie’s) predecessor, he said, “it is his right to do so. I leave it to him, if he feels some kind of intimidation has been done. I hope the relevant authorities would take the necessary action”.

On the writ of summons filed by his predecessor against Juhar and himself, Mohd Shafie said he was ready for it.

Meanwhile, he said his government as promised, was looking into the abolishment of the communal title policy introduced by his predecessor.

“We are in the process of getting details on the matter and an announcement would be made within 100 days,” he said.

On the appointment of members of parliament from his party Warisan to the federal cabinet, Mohd Shafie expressed confidence that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir would include Sabah in the lineup.