Pairin upbeat Devt Corridors to benefit all people

PENAMPANG, Nov 12 (New Sabah Times) --- PBS president,Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan is confident the Development Corridors for Sabah and sarawak will have greater impact in ensuring balanced development to benefit all the people.

He said it would not only generate the nation’s economy but also make sure there would be fairer distribution of development programmes.

He was speaking at the 22nd PBS Congress at the Hongkod Koisaan here yesterday.

“We are happy that the government continues to draw up strategies that enhance unity among the multi-racial people in this country,” he said.

Pairin,the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Rural Development,also commended the federal government for allocating RM200 billion for development programmes under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

“We are grateful that Sabah has been given RM4 billion under the 2008 budget as announced by the Prime Minister recently and hope that it will bring the desired development.

“Sabah still lags behind many states in Malaysia with many areas in the interior still without running water,electricity,roads and even proper schools or houses,” he pointed out.

He therefore believes that if these problems can be addressed it will narrow the poverty gap in Sabah.

Meanwhile,PBS pledged to work hard in ensuring another victory for Barisan Nasional in the next elections.

“I have full confidence PBS will not only retain its current number of seats but also win more seats if given the chance,” said Pairin.

PBS has 61 divisions with some 160,000 members and at present represents the BN in 13 state seats and four parliamentary constituencies.