Pairin denies BN failed to develop Sabah

KIULU, Oct 5 — Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan contested opposition claims that Barisan Nasional (BN) has not brought “any development” to the state and its people for the past 49 years as a big lie.

Describing the opposition’s allegations as a tactic to garner votes for the upcoming general election, he added that Sabahans could see the evidence for themselves with the provision of basic facilities, infrastructure, education, electricity and water supply.

“Conditions have come a long way since I entered politics in 1975 or 1976. Sabah was lacking in many areas but now there’re roads, electricity and water supply, schools, institutions of higher learning (Universiti Malaysia Sabah), even in Kiulu,” Pairin (picture) said.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president was speaking during the opening of the Kiulu division PBS annual general meeting, at the Kiulu Multipurpose Hall here today.

He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was in the midst of actively transforming the country towards a developed nation with a high income population by 2020 through the Government Transformation Programme.

Calling Najib a “political doctor”, Pairin said the prime minister was a people’s leader who always went down to the grass roots to treat and resolve their problems, especially in rural and secluded areas.

“Najib genuinely listens to the needs and woes of the people. That’s why he’s willing to go down to the grass roots, including in my constituency of Tambunan,” he said, adding that Najib was the first prime minister to set foot in Tambunan.

He advised Sabahans to fully support BN and not be easily swayed by the opposition’s tactics of promising anything just to gain power. — Bernama