Wee hits back at Warisan Plus over comments

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong is shooting back at Warisan Plus and mocking the coalition for accusing others of political frog jumping and forming backdoor governments.

He said Warisan Plus led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had been going on about political frogs to form backdoor governments and leading to the dissolution of the state assembly but he seems to have forgotten how he became chief minister in 2018.

“Was it not because of these frogs that he could form the state government then?” he said.

Dr Wee said Warisan Plus was also trying to get the people to vote out peninsula-based parties like Barisan Nasional, but the coalition itself comprised DAP and PKR.

“You tell the people they do not need peninsula-based parties or leaders, so why do you accept Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng?” he asked.

He also questioned what happened to the many promises that Pakatan Harapan and Warisan had made such as reducing petrol prices and abolishing PTPTN study loans.

“They respond by saying that the manifesto is not a bible,” Dr Wee said.

He said Shafie kept condemning the Barisan government for not developing Sabah over the years when they were in power, but he failed to remember that he was once the rural and regional development minister.

He said this during a greet the people programme together with Sabah MCA chief Lu Yen Tung, who is standing under the Barisan ticket in the Kapayan seat on Saturday night.

Dr Wee promised to give more autonomy to Lu to steer the party and handle state matters if Lu were to win the state seat.

Meanwhile in a Facebook post, Dr Wee, who is Transport Minister, spoke about a meeting with taxi associations in Sabah to hear their views.

“Several issues were raised during the dialogue, including complaints from e-hailing drivers in Sandakan on e-hailing operators not adhering to the set rules by the government,” he said.

Dr Wee said licence renewal and application, as well as vehicle inspection by Puspakom should be streamlined so as to not make it complicated for both e-hailing and taxi drivers.

At a separate event, Lu launched his manifesto yesterday.

He said the four MCA candidates here were determined to fight on despite the tough journey.

They were spurred on by the show of encouragement by groups of voters during their walkabouts and campaigning, he said.

The other three seats being contested by MCA candidates are in Likas, Karamunting and Elopura.

For his manifesto, Lu pledged to address the flood woes and improve economic activities which include creating more job opportunities for his constituents.

“I am not a man with many words, I do not know how to make nice promises and that is why my manifesto is short,” he said.

He said a flood mitigation plan had already been proposed to the Federal Government in 2012, but the follow-up actions were halted due to shifts in governments and other upheavals.

“Our plan is to build two water pumps, one in Sungai Sodomon in Petagas and another in Sungai Sembulan,” he said.

As for the economy, he plans to set up mini cultural centres to provide among others, traditional dishes for local and foreign tourists.

“This is part of my effort to contribute to the revival of the tourism sector in Sabah,” said Lu.

MCA, he added, would assist in getting start-up grants from the relevant government departments and agencies, as well as investors.

“Such plans can only be realised faster if the state and Federal Government have good relationship,” he said.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, who was present at the manifesto launch, stressed it was important to vote in a trusted state representative who has good relations with the Federal Government.