Formula needed: PBS
Tuesday, 27 September 2005 (Source: Daily Express)

PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) believes a formula on power sharing is needed to ensure all Barisan Nasional (BN) components get their fair share of the cake in Sabah.

Its President, Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said there must be a guided system in that when there is a clear line of approach it would have to be adhered to by every party.

"We are thinking along that lineËhen it is not clear and no system is in place, then obviously everybody will be voicing their concerns, desires and wishes and they will propose certain formulas.

"I think PBS will be among those who may be coming up with another formula," he said when asked whether he thinks a formal power sharing formula needs to be agreed upon and observed by the BN, especially in Sabah.

"At this point in time, I can't say if we are happy with our share or not because there is no (clear) definition (on formula for fair share)," he said, adding they have to wait for all the feedback from the grassroots before tabling it for scrutiny of the leadership.

Met after opening PBS' 20th Congress at Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA here, Monday, Pairin said at the moment the question of "fair share" had been asked by a lot of people.

"What do you consider 'fair share' and that very definition will be the subject of everybody's attention as it is what is 30 per cent in the question of the New Economic Policy (NEP), what are the things you ought to consider," he said.

As the mother party, BN has to consider all those tabled for its attention, he said, adding in his policy speech he mentioned that the party had received feedback pertaining to several areas (lack of power sharing) that merits the Government's consideration.

He said PBS is currently collecting all the feedback to make it more detailed when the party presents its cases to the leadership.

In his policy speech, Pairin, who is a Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Rural Development Minister, said among the feedback was that PBS was not getting its real deal despite being the second biggest party in the State.

Some PBS elected representatives have also felt they were neglected or not consulted when political appointments were made in their respective constituencies, he said.

"There are also civil servants saying they were not given any attention in terms of appointments, promotions and training because they were suspected of being supporters of PBS," he said, adding some contractors also said it was a similar case for them resulting in them being sidelined from getting development projects.

In this respect, Pairin hoped the leadership and Government would thoroughly study the feedback submitted by the party.

"PBS' stand is very clear. We don't want to see there are our people (more so natives), to be left out, marginalised and denied their rights. We don't want to see certain quarters who are inclined to monopolise available opportunities and inconsiderate to the need of others in this beloved Malaysia," he said.

Towards this end, he said there is a need for all to be guided by the Prime Minister's statement that "nobody gets all, nobody gets nothing".

"As for PBS, the economic cake of the country needs to be made bigger and shared equally by all citizens," he said.