Pairin Denies Having Acted Like Dictator In Approving FMU Licence

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has denied Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) (Parti Maju Sabah) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee's allegation that he acted like a dictator with regard to the approval of the Forest Management Units (FMU) licence to the KTS Group of Sarawak in the early 1990s.

Pairin, who is deputy chief minister-cum-infrastructure development minister, said the allegation was baseless and aimed at gaining political mileage.

He said the approval of the first FMU licence to the company was done in a proper manner.

"I had consulted and sought the views of the state director of forestry department at that time before the issuance of the FMU licence...this was not without the knowledge of the then-state cabinet," he told reporters when met at the infrastructure development ministry's Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering in Sembulan near here Friday.

Pairin was asked to comment on a statement by Yong yesterday, that the first ever FMU Licence was issued to the KTS Group of Sarawak in early 1990s without any reference to the state cabinet.

On another allegation by Yong that PBS was made use of by Umno to attack SAPP politically, Pairin said this was mere heresay aimed at tarnishing PBS image.

"If we talk about politics, there is also a story going around that SAPP has become the mouthpiece of the DAP and PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat)," he said.