TUARAN: It is somewhat outrageous for caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) President to say that Sabahans do not need Federal Government assistance, said Sabah Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
“I think that is a very negative statement. The people of Sabah need help. Whatever assistance from the Government, the people would happily accept it. So if we say the people of Sabah do not need BR1M, do not need Federal assistance, that is something which I feel is very negative and the people also do not like such a situation.
“That is why we are together in the Federal Government to help the people. There are still many of our people who need help. So if we say that the people do not need the help, it is something that is a bit outrageous,” he said when asked about Mohd Shafie’s statement in a video went viral on social media during a press conference held at a leader-and-people session at PN Kindu polling district centre (PDM) sub base in Kampung Kindu here Saturday.
Asked on another statement by Mohd Shafie who claimed that if he (Hajiji) became the new Sabah Chief Minister he would be controlled by former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, Hajiji said that is incorrect.
“I am an adult and have been in politics for a long time. No one can control what I had in mind and whatever that I am planning. So I think Datuk Shafie’s accusation is not true.
“I also want to ask Datuk Shafie not to be carried away by others like Tan Sri Musa Aman, because he is not a candidate (in this State Election). Although he (Musa) may have helped in campaigning in some areas, I think why we focused on him, he has become a subject of condemnation, which I think is not fair to him, all the extreme statements against him, slander and so on.
“So, I also do not know. Our issue is supposed to be the revival of the people’s economy, helping the people and the future of Sabah. Why we involve and condemn others who are not even contesting in this election. To me, that is not very nice for the people to hear,” he said.
On his economic agenda for the Sulaman state constituency, Hajiji who defended this state seat said he had many plans for the constituency.
“Actually in Sulaman there are many sectors that we can develop, including what we have pledged in our Aku Janji (I Pledge) manifesto.
“In Sulaman, there are several segments of the community like fishermen, farmers and even ordinary workers. So, for me, I will do my best to help these target groups, the fishermen, farmers and even those small-time traders and so on.
“They need help, places and so on. This we will do for them because to generate the economy we need to diversify their sources of income. So this is the way for them to earn an income and make a living.
“I do not need to say in detail but in our halatuju (direction), not only for Sulaman but at the State-level we must not forget these sectors that can bring progress and income to the people.
“God willing, in Sulaman, we will continue. Not only in terms of infrastructure but also wherever that is not enough. For example, in a village I visited, the problem they have these two years (under the Warisan Plus Government) is that they could not get assistance for repairing roads, bridges and so on.
“But God willing, if we are given the mandate, we will do our best,” he said, adding in the past, he never failed to allocate to every village, especially to repair bridges, jetties, roads and so on,” he said, while also confident of his chances in the upcoming State Election. -pr/BNN
