Local parties must work with national parties – Christina

KOTA KINABALU: Local political parties must work together with national parties in order to achieve success in the coming election.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah chief Christina Liew said it is vital for local parties to work in tandem with national parties so that both will be part of the change when forming a new government.

“We have to push the reformation agenda in Sabah because it is already very hot in West Malaysia. Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be working together with Parti Warisan Sabah because we believe that the reformation agenda can only be achieved by working together,” she said.

Christina said this in response to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Melanie Chia’s statement that national parties are not interested in pushing the Sabah and Sarawak agenda.

Christina said PH is a national party that has been in Sabah and Sarawak for the last 20 years, with herself also being a Sabahan.

“Now we are talking about change together, Sabah and Sarawak. We form together a state government and federal government in order to provide subsidies and execute our promises, as per our manifesto.

“Melanie is entitled to her views, but I disagree with her statement. Since this seems to be their will, it appears that they are not willing to work with the federal government and only want to work among themselves. I don’t know how they will go about making the changes,” she said.

With regards to Sabah, Christina said among the changes PKR will bring to the state is to revamp the Sabah Land Ordinance 1930.

“If the mandate is given to us by the people, the first thing I will propose to the new state government is to completely revamp the Ordinance. This is simply because many of the laws are outdated. Although from time to time the state government try to amend this and that, it is not good enough. It is piecemeal work,” she said.

Among matters that will be scrutinized include the issuance of subsidiary titles and government policy concerning abandoned projects.

“We will of course set up a special task force to do it, which will comprise the Sabah Law Society, Attorney General, valuer associations and all that have anything to do with project development,” said Christina.

In addition, PKR will ensure one third of the one million affordable housing projects, included in its manifesto, will go to Sabah.

The cost of property in the state is too high, she said, especially with low income that hinders first-time buyers from buying property.