SABAHANS - BRACE FOR BETRAYAL: State govt has its own way to ask for oil royalty - Musa Aman

Kota Kinabalu - The State Government has its own way of handling the oil royalty issue and reach a win-win situation that would benefit the people economically, according to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

"The Government need not follow the actions of the opposition.

There is no benefit in shouting; it is better to discuss the issue civilly and resolve it to fruition," he said, while opening the Kota Kinabalu Umno delegates' meeting at the Community Centre, here, Sunday.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, noted the necessity to continuously hold negotiations with the Federal Government on the oil royalty and equity in oil and gas project investments in Sabah.

He cited the Kimanis-Bintulu Pipeline Project and 25 per cent share in the Sabah Ammonia Urea Project (Samur) in Sipitang, as among the issues that the State Government had brought to the negotiating table.

"Sabah also wants to be a key player in the oil and gas industry, including exploration, thus the joint venture with Petronas," he said.

Meanwhile, he urged Kota Kinabalu Umno members to wrest the constituency back from the opposition, which won it in the last election.

Speaking to reporters later, Musa, who is also Sabah Umno Chairman, said party members should use the delegates meeting as a platform to express their views and ideas.

"I call on party members to maintain unity and uphold the party struggle which has been the culture in Umno till today," he said.

On the request for the appointment of a Senator from Kota Kinabalu Umno, he said he would consider it.

Meanwhile, Umno Kota Kinabalu believes the State Government's strong political will under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman will see a quick solution to the plight of the people in Sembulan.

Its Chief, Datuk Faisyal Hamdan Diego, said the issue affecting the Sembulan residents was due to the land where their houses were located being handed over to the developer without their knowledge.

Speaking at the Umno Kota Kinabalu annual delegates meeting, he also commended the State Government for the success in getting back Tanjung Aru beach.

"I wish to state here that it was not easy to handle the Tanjung Aru beach issue since it involved complicated legal matters whereby the State Government had to battle it out in the courtroom to regain control of the beach.

"Similarly we hope this will also be done for the Sembulan areas," he said.

On another note, Faisyal hoped the leadership would consider appointing a Senator from the Kota Kinabalu division so that the voices in the constituency, which was not represented by Umno, could be heard.

He also said since Kota Kinabalu and Luyang were being represented by the opposition, Umno Kota Kinabalu proposed that all political appointments currently being held by Umno be maintained.

Later, Umno Kota Kinabalu passed a resolution calling for the State Government to maintain Datuk Jame Alip as the State Education Director.

Another resolution passed called for the allowance of teachers from Sabah posted to the peninsula to be standardised with the allowance received by teachers from the peninsula serving in Sabah. -http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/