Ariah's decision no surprise

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 4 (Daily Express) -- Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad's move to join opposition, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on Sunday did not come as a surprise for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

The Deputy Chief Minister said she "had given enough indication that she is supporting this particular party".

Pairin, in acknowledging that it was Ariah's right to choose which party she wants to be affiliated as Malaysia practices democracy, said her move had actually awakened him on the fact that some of those with him were not looking at reality.

Ariah was a Deputy Chief Minister during the PBS Government and had been a staunch PBS supporter until she retired from active politics several years ago.

"It is not a question of (me) being disappointed (because) it is up to the individual," he said when asked whether he was disappointed with Ariah's move. Pairin who is also Rural Development Minister dispelled the opinion of the opposition in particular PKR, that development was not reaching the people.

"This is not true as this present government has been doing a lot to rectify what was not there (before). We are balancing the development between the rural and urban areas.

"I believe this is what they (PKR) are focusing (to gain support from voters) but this is incorrect as under the present government and Halatuju of the State Government the development is focus on infrastructure throughout the country particularly looking at Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

Pairin said to claim that the Government's has no clear intention in its objective of bringing development was tantamount to misleading the people. "I do believe we have the right leadership in the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the context of the Prime Minister who has got aspirations similar to what we (PBS) aspire," he said, adding that it was the role of PBS to support the Prime Minister to ensure all these aspirations as underlined in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and National 2008 Budget can be achieved.

On claims by the opposition that the government was not addressing the public delivery system, he said it was up for them to work it out.

"Anybody can give suggestions, she (Ariah) can present a very wonderful speech and the Government is always ready to listen but I believe this is not the time to pull down good programme," he said.

"It doesn't mean that the oppositions cannot have their say but it also doesn't mean that what they are saying is right É we must put things in proper perspective and look at things realistically," he said.

Nonetheless, Pairin hoped Ariah "will always remember where she was before and how she had helped the State and PBS". As for Ariah's claim that she had tried to contact him but could not get through, Pairin said:

"(A) message was passed to me and I gave her a call twice (on Sunday) but no answer so I left a message that 'this is Datuk Pairin and I am returning your calls'".

Meanwhile, PBS Information Chief, Johnny Mositun said he regarded Ariah as his mentor in Papar as she always gave him political advice during her political heydays.

"I remember she once told me that she was now past her prime and that it was time for her to retire," said Mositun when contacted in Kuala Lumpur. He said Ariah was very cordial with the other PBS leaders and supporters during the party's Malam Bersatu (Unity Night) during which he was the organising chairman in conjunction with PBS 22nd congress last month.

"Although it is her democratic right (to join PKR) I think it is against what she has been advising to all of us in giving us hope all this while," he said.

Mositun said there is no problem that cannot be resolved amicably especially under the BN consensus spirit.