'SABAH CAN'T AFFORD EXPERIMENTAL POLITICS'

PAPAR : Sabah cannot afford the luxury of experimental politics that could derail its economic progress as Malaysia moves towards becoming a high-income nation within the decade.

"That is why it is essential for PBS to ensure that BN is returned to power with a healthy two-thirds majority in the coming general election," said PBS Information Chief and Pantai Manis Division Chief, Datuk Johnny Mositun.

Addressing the PBS Bongawan Division Annual General Meeting at Dewan Mositun here Saturday, Mositun, who is also State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, said BN needs a two-thirds majority in the State Assembly and Parliament to govern effectively and pursue its development goals without obstruction.

"Political strength is essential when difficult decisions have to be made and policies implemented to keep the nation united and on course.

Malaysia has to face so many uncertainties on the global and domestic fronts, and we cannot afford to be 'experimenting' with our domestic politics, especially now," he said.

Mositun said BN is an inclusive coalition of political parties that gives every ethnic community, including the KDM, representation in policy-making and governance of the country.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak fully acknowledged the importance of Sabah and the KDM community.

"This is reflected in the composition of the Federal Cabinet. Of the three Sabahan Federal Ministers, two are KDM (Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok). Another KDM, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, is a Deputy Federal Minister. A Sabahan, Datuk Rahim Bakri, is Deputy Federal Minister of Transport and the Attorney-General is also a Sabahan," he said.

In fact, with Datuk Anifah Aman as Foreign Minister and Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin as Deputy Health Minister, as well as Datuk VK Liew as a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Sabahans' high representation in the Federal Cabinet was unprecedented.

Mositun said Sabahans, in particular the KDM, would lose all these if the opposition came to power because its main objective was to make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Prime Minister.

"That is all the opposition wants. They will make all sorts of promises to get support for this mission, but once that is achieved all these promises will be forgotten," Mositun said.

Urging PBS members to continue supporting the State Government, he said the re-delineation of electoral constituencies would take place next year.

"After meeting several high-ranking EC (Elections Commission) officers here and in Kuala Lumpur, I have been given to understand that Sabah will get some additional new constituencies.

I have put forward my view that the recent emergence of big industries and rapid population growth along the West Coast justifies the creation of several new constituencies between Papar and Sipitang," Mositun said.

He said the creation of new constituencies should not be based on ethnicity alone but rather the overall population and geography of the locality, among other things.

"The important thing is for the electoral constituencies to enable a balanced and equitable representation of Sabahans based on the overall demography of the State," he said.

Mositun said he was concerned about the rise in complaints about road traffic in the Papar District in the wake of rapid industrialisation at Kimanis and Sipitang.

"The volume of road traffic has increased tremendously in recent years, and there are daily traffic jams at the entrance to Papar town near the old railway bridge.

"I hope the State Government will take up my suggestion for a diversionary road from near the the Pengalat-Dambai junction and an additional bridge over the Papar River.

"This will ease the daily bottleneck at the awkward roundabout which is the entry to Papar town itself.

Additionally, I suggest the State Government treat calls for upgrading the Kinarut-Pengalat-Papar road to a dual carriageway as a matter of urgency," Mositun said.

On hand were PBS Bongawan new chief, Jitim Abak @ Johan, and Supreme Council members, Ali Zaman, Merchal Dibang and Masilus Roman. (DE)