Speed up power devolution
KOTA KINABALU: Sandakan MP Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt urged the federal government to expedite the devolution of power process and to fulfill Pakatan Harapan's promises made during the 14th general election.
"It's been 10 months since the Pakatan Harapan took over administration of the federal government but I have yet to see any effort or will of the federal government in the devolution of powers to the Sabah government," he said.
The Sabah Health and People's Wellbeing Minister lamented that until now, the ministry is left out of any decisions, policies and appointment of tendered projects pertaining to the state that are made by the federal government.
He also expressed his disappointment with the Health Ministry's rejection of the application to build a hemodialysis centre in Inanam.
"The reason given was that there were issues with the zoning. Now the patients have to be sent to Papar and Beaufort which is about 100km from Kota Kinabalu for treatment," he pointed out.
The situation arose because the Health Ministry failed to get the opinion and agreement of the Sabah Health ministry before making its decision with regards to the matter, he said.
Wong added that the needs of the local community should have been taken into consideration and pointed out that the dialysis centre is a private one which will not cost the government any money.
He also stressed that Sabah is still left very far behind in terms of infrastructure, especially hospitals and clinics, the huge difference in the doctor to population ratio and the lack of specialists in the state.
"We need more assistance and attention. We need sincerity from all quarters especially the federal government to help the sick and ailing in Sabah. I have also sent two letters to the Health Minister, dated January 10 and February 25 but have not received any response.
"I was only informed by the minister recently that he had never received the letters," Wong said.
He expressed hope that the cooperation and understanding between the state and federal governments can be improved in order to achieve true changes and reformation that will benefit the rakyat.
He also lauded Transport Minister Anthony Loke for his action to standardise the road tax of commercial vehicles in Sabah and Sarawak. This, he said, showed that the minister listened to the voices of the people in Sabah.
Wong said the upgrading of the Sandakan Airport was also the result of Loke referring to the Sabah government and taking into consideration what the state needed.
"This is the type of minister the rakyat wants and this is the correct formula of Malaysia Baru which I hope will be continued," he said.
Wong also suggested a special committee involving enforcement agencies including the police, Customs Department and National Anti Narcotics Agency, to be set up to help resolve the drug problem that is getting worse in Sabah.
The agency will look into border control and conduct operations to combat drug smuggling activities, he said.
He said the number of drugrelated arrests in Sabah from January to March this year was 2,819 people and was a 14 per cent increase when compared to the same period last year where 2,462 people were arrested.
There is a need to identify how drugs are smuggled into the state and how the problem can be resolved, said Wong adding: "I know most of the drug supply in Sabah are from Peninsular Malaysia. Are there weaknesses in our border control?"