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PRESS
RELEASE
IN
KOTA MARUDU, 9 APRIL 1997
PAIRIN:
ELECTION BEST WAY TO SOLVE STATE WOES
KOTA
MARUDU, Wed. - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) claimed that a State
election would be the best way to solve the numerous problems besetting
the present government and called for the dissolution of the State
Assembly.
PBS
president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan made the statement when closing
a leadership and management work camp for party leaders from five
Kudat-zone divisions in Kota Marudu last night. Some 600 people
attended the function including senior party leaders, branch heads
and supporters.
Pairin
said there is so much uncertainty about the State's administration
that the people have lost confidence in the ability of the government
to deliver the goods to the people.
He
claimed that the rotation of the chief minister had caused uncertainties
in economic and investment policies as well as interference in the
civil service.
"The
failure to fulfil the Sabah Baru promises of zero poverty level,
zero illiteracy, a house for every Sabahan by the year 2000 has
caused the people to lose faith in the government.
"The
government's financial state is also a concern to everyone. Some
civil servants are even worried that they may not get their monthly
salary", he alleged.
The
former chief minister said the only way to restore the people's
confidence in the government and resolve the State's woes was to
allow the people to elect a government of their choice.
Pairin
reiterated that the signs for an impending election were getting
clearer and urged all PBS divisions to activate their election machinery.
"The
fact that the government had decided to spend all its 7th Plan allocation
for special development projects under the chief minister's department
in 1997 shows that an election is imminent. Other political parties
like UMNO have also urged their divisions to get ready for election",
he said.
Pairin also claimed that the party was receiving increasing support
from the muslim community as proven by the entry of many of new
members and setting up of new branches in muslim-dominated constituencies.
"More
and more people now identify with the party's struggle and support
our multi-racial approach to political unity. At the moment the
number of people applying to become members is so large that there
are not even enough membership forms to go around", he said.
Meanwhile
PBS deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili said there was mismanagement
of the State's financial assets and resources as well as disorder
in the administrative system and called for their restoration through
the election process.
"Morale
in the civil service is low because the 1996 bonus has not been
paid to staff, and for some agencies like the local authorities,
even arrears are yet to be settled. There has also been the style
of the government to scold civil servants publicly through the media
which only leads to non-cooperation and resentment", he argued.
Deputy
president Datuk Wong Phin Chung who also spoke during the function
called on the government to dissolve the assembly early, arguing
that the people were facing many hardships such as increased price
of goods and depressed business conditions in many towns.
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