Pairin Vows To Reduce Poverty Rate In Sabah
Monday, 29 March 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KOTA KINABALU: Newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan has vowed to use his vast administrative experience to help realise the government's objective of eradicating poverty in Sabah, particularly in the rural areas.

Pairin, who is also State Rural Development Minister, said he had a tough task ahead but was confident the poverty rate could be reduced significantly in the next five years through concerted efforts by the state and federal governments.

"Poverty eradication is a very important and noble cause both by the state and federal governments. That's why it is my agenda to meet my federal counterpart to discuss things, especially on how to eradicate poverty.

"We all understand each other's role and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's emphasis on overcoming poverty...that shows how serious is the government in eradicating poverty,' he told reporters after attending his ministry's briefing by its Permanent Secretary Datuk Ghulam Jelani in Sembulan, near here, Monday.

Pairin, who was included in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman's new cabinet line-up on Saturday, along with his assistant Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan began their first day in office Monday.

"As you know, Prime Minister has said that his priority is to overcome and eradicate poverty and second is education.

"This is very important because the government's ultimate aim is to see our citizens get jobs and that poor people will be assisted to increase their level of income," he said.

Pairin, the former Chief Minister, said he was happy with the new role in the government, and would do his level best to assist the masterplan of the state government.

Musa had prioritised agriculture, manufacturing and tourism sectors as the main revenue earners to the state's coffer.

Asked whether he would put to good use his working experience in discharging his duties at the Rural Development Ministry, Pairin replied in the affirmative and acknowledged the important role other colleagues and non-governmental organisations could play in the matter.

"This is a role I have to play now because it is part and parcel of the services to the people, the state and the country.

"Every ministry has a role to play and we try to play our part well," he said.

Meanwhile, Tawfiq, former Sabah Umno Youth chief, thanked the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership for giving him the chance to serve the people in his capacity as an assistant minister.

"It's good to be part of the team to eradicate poverty in Sabah. This is a learning process for me and I think I'm lucky to have the opportunity of working together with Datuk Pairin who is a very experienced leader and former Chief Minister...maybe I can learn a lot from him," he said.