PBS remains committed to progress of Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, July 21 (The Borneo Post) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) remains committed to the progress of Sabah and it will not allow itself to be distracted by unnecessary and unproductive rhetoric of opposition politicians seeking cheap publicity.“The fact is that PBS has come through a long ‘learning experience’ and knows the social, economic and political realities of the day based on facts, not imagination or prejudices arising from partisan politics,” said information chief Datuk Johnny Mositun.

“Based on the realisation that quick, effective and lasting solutions to Sabah’s woes can only be found through good state-federal relations, PBS joined the BN. That has allowed the BN to focus on development with results which anyone can see today in Sabah,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Responding to the allegations by Sri Tanjung assemblyman Jimmy Wong that PBS was just a passenger in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, he said Wong and DAP were trying to wedge between Umno and its partners in BN by suggesting that the former did not respect or appreciate them as full-fledged partners.

“That’s his opinion. The fact is the BN has remained intact ever since it was formed and continues to rule the country. That speaks for itself,” he said.

Mositun said that while Wong was not wrong to point out that the issue of illegal immigrants had yet to be resolved, the state and federal authorities were already working towards a solution to this problem.

“But, what is Wong’s justification to single out PBS for the failure to resolve this issue? This is a matter that both the state and federal governments are trying to resolve with the help and involvement of not just PBS but also other BN parties in Sabah, local NGOs and even the opposition if it genuinely wants to assist and not just to exploit for its own political mileage,” he said.

Mositun who is also a Deputy Speaker, added that Sabah could look forward to better days under Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s premiership.

“Just see how much concern the Prime Minister has for Sabah. He has visited Sabah at least eight times since he took office and just last week he was here for three days, meeting political leaders, captains of the industry and ordinary people.

“From his face to face meetings with industry leaders, he has openly stated that Sabah has a case to call for a review of the Cabotage Policy. Why doesn’t Wong and his friends in DAP acknowledged,” he said.