PRESS
RELEASE
IN
KOTA MARUDU TODAY, 27 May 1998
PBS:
BN State Government failed
KOTA
MARUDU, Wed. – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) claimed the Barisan
Nasional (BN) State government was yet to bring positive changes
in the political and economic landscape of Sabah despite being in
power for more than four years.
Its
deputy president Abdul Malek Chua said the so-called changes which
the BN government talk so much about were all undesirable and not
welcomed by the people especially the rotation of the chief ministership,
amendments to State laws, and massive granting of town and agricultural
lands to large companies.
He
was speaking while closing the 13th Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the PBS Tandek division last night which was attended by
some 800 party leaders and supporters.
Malek
said the famous promise of creating a new Sabah with 100-days development,
no poverty, no illiteracy, modern airports and a house for every
Sabahan by the year 2000 were merely political gimmicks, adding
that "the government was not sincere when it made such promises."
He
also said muslim support for PBS has grown stronger since 1994 and
the party was ready to face the BN in the next election.
"The
number of PBS members from the muslim community has risen drastically
because of their frustration with the BN’s style of government and
their understanding and appreciation of the better PBS struggle.",
he claimed.
Deputy
president Datuk Wong Phin Chung who also addressed the gathering
said the strength of PBS lay in its multi-racial political struggle
and the sincerity of its leaders especially Datuk Joseph Pairin
Kitingan.
"At
a time of political and economic uncertainties in Sabah only the
PBS president can unite the people and truly lead Sabah because
of his integrity, sincerity and experience in government", he stressed.
He
said the BN was in disarray with component parties openly contradicting
and quarrelling with each other and therefore "has no time to develop
the State and deliver its promises", he alleged.
Former
Gerakan State chief Dr Chong Eng Leong in his maiden speech after
returning to PBS stressed that he left the Barisan because it was
not achieving anything.
"As
a member of the BN, we tried to be frank and pointed out policy
and administrative weaknesses of the system as well as other pressing
problems that needed to be corrected. Instead of appreciating our
inputs, we were regarded as opposition that was apparently worse
than the PBS. Given that kind of treatment I felt I was wasting
my time and therefore decided to leave and re-join PBS", he explained.
He
said he will continue to struggle and speak up against the economic
imbalance between the Peninsular states and Sabah especially in
terms of development allocation and price of essential goods claiming
that "the Federal government has not taken any corrective measure
so far."
Former
Berjaya president Datuk Mohd Noor Mansoor spoke on the need for
the people of Sabah to know their destiny and reject the politics
of divide and rule propogated by the Barisan Nasional.
"There
are irresponsible leaders who do not want the people of Sabah to
be united. But we must continue to strive for unity and clean the
State from the political mess created by the present government
such as the rotation system which is not found in the Sabah constitution.",
he said.
On
the appointment of the next chief minister, Mohd Noor said he was
shocked to observe PDS president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and PBRS
chief Joseph Kurup staking their claim on the post when neither
has the right to do so, adding that "the two leaders hold PBS seats
and are yet to win a seat for their own party."
Meanwhile
Tandek divisional chief and PBS deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili
said the party machinery was ready to face the Barisan Nasional
in the next election and based on feedback from all constituencies,
the party was confident of a huge majority.
"From
all fronts the BN government has hardly done anything that the people
of Sabah can be proud about. There has been just plenty of talk
but no action. Each chief minister seemed to be preoccupied only
with their own team and has very little time for the people at the
grassroots’ level who desperately need economic development. There
is an overwhelming mood and frustration to change the government,"
he claimed.
Other
leaders who attended the meeting included secretary general Radin
Malleh, Kudat assemblyman Datuk Kong Hong Ming, several supreme
council members and divisional chiefs.
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