Pro-BN NGO questions Shafie’s capability to become CM

KOTA KINABALU: The ProBarisan Nasional Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisation yesterday has questioned the capability of the former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to become Sabah chief minister.

Its president, Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar, claimed that Mohd Shafie failed to solve the problem of basic infrastructure in rural Sabah during his tenure as a minister for five years.

“It is obvious that many issues regarding the roads, electricity supply and clean water were not solved by Shafie, even though the ministry under his leadership had received nearly RM20 billion from the government in five years,” he said in a statement.

Zulkarnain also doubted Mohd Shafie’s seriousness to solve the issues in Sabah because he had never held a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the state cabinet ministers to discuss the problems and needs of the people.

He said Mohd Shafie’s approach was different with the current minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who immediately held four-eyed meeting with Musa the first week he was appointed as minister.

Zulkarnain also claimed that Mohd Shafie rarely visited Sabah rural areas and more focused on visiting rural areas in Sarawak and the peninsula.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak disclosed on Friday that a former federal minister who now heads an opposition political party had requested to be appointed as the chief minister of Sabah.

Najib said the request was to fulfil a personal ambition of that former minister.

“I feel personal ambitions should not override the struggle for the people,” he said when speaking at the launch of the Taman Batu Sapi People’s Housing Programme in Sandakan.

Najib did not name anyone but was apparently referring to Shafie, the Semporna MP and president of Parti Warisan Sabah.