Pairin's pledge to the interior folks

TENOM, Sep 22 (Daily Express) -- Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan reassured Interior folks they will continue to enjoy rapid development under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) programmes.

But to ensure all the development programmes and projects implemented by the Government would be fully benefited by them would also require full support and commitment on their part, he said, when officiating the multipurpose hall of Kg Lagud, about eight kilometres from here.

The multipurpose hall was completed at a cost of RM150,000 using funds from Pairin's former Rural Development Ministry, which was approved by him while heading the Ministry in 2008. Some 300 villagers attended the ceremony.

Pairin, who is PBS President, hoped the villagers will make full use of the new multipurpose hall by using it for organising more community-based and other beneficial activities.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Melalalp Assemblyman Datuk Radin Malleh, earlier in his speech, said he is not surprised if there are sections of the rakyat labelling him as lame duck because of the delays in several promised development projects.

"But actually they don't know that I have been doing my very level best to get it done.

We don't have magic or power that we can use to fulfil one's desire in a blink of an eyeÉinstead development that we planned must go through Government process and procedures apart from various other obstacles," he said.

He was relieved that the implementation of the Melalap sub-district town and the Binaie new bridge projects are going smoothly as planned.

Several individuals also took the opportunity to submit applications to join PBS including Yusop Tawayon, Majikon Ngangat, Rantin Surangking and Fred Gintod.

Former Pensiangan MP Datuk Bernard Maraat, OKK Haji Maribin Rugin, PKR Melalap Blasius Masuning, ADO Clarence Puin Pinduruh and other local community leaders were also present.