I’m in Sepanggar to serve – Abdul Rahman

KOTA KINABALU: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dhalan said his recent focus on development in Sepanggar is not an indicative of him being fielded as a candidate this 14th general election.

The development plans he has for Sepanggar is also not a platform for him to ‘switch’ constituencies as he is only doing that in his capacity as a minister and as a Sabahan who wants to see the state develop and grow.

The Kota Belud Member of Parliament, when asked if what he has planned for Sepanggar and what he has implemented is a platform for him stand there, replied: “No. It is a platform for me to serve Sabah and in particular Sepanggar in my capacity as minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

“I am doing my job, as a minister, the first Sabahan to be in charge of RM46 billion development budget. This, minister in charge of EPU, is a very important position.

“I owe it to the people of Sabah, in particular the greater Kota Kinabalu. It so happens that I stay in Sepanggar so I give a little of attention to it.

“We have just approved RM100 million for the Sandakan airport but I am not standing in Sandakan, we approved RM500 million for Tanjung Aru Eco Development but I am not standing in Kota Kinabalu,” he said when met at City Hall’s ‘Program Ramai-ramai di Inanam’ here yesterday.

He pointed out that the decision of who and where they will be fielded should be left to the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership.

“I know it is cliche but seriously I love Kota Belud, it is an area where I have been working for the last 10 years there is so much more to do. Why I keep mentioning Sepanggar because unlike other areas it is very unique. We have IPPs in Sepanggar, the container port is located here, it is also an education hub … I see a huge potential for growth and development,” he stressed.

“I am here to give whatever is the requirement of City Hall as far as as Sepanggar is concerned because I truly believe it has a lot of potential. To unlock this potential and value you require a collaboration between local authorities, state and federal governments,” he stressed.

Abdul Rahman said that if he is given the opportunity to contest in Sepanggar, he will first consult the local leadership on the matter.

“So whether I am here as a candidate or not, is secondary and is immaterial. There are many more who can (be the candidate) but I am here to serve because I reside in Sepanggar and many of my family live here too. I am here to serve the people of Sepanggar in my capacity as a minister.