Taib Mahmud: Opposition leaders are big liars

SIBU Bernama) - Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Tuesday night chided the opposition for claiming to have the answers to every ill and problem.

Speaking at an Aidilfitri gathering here, he said they talked and talked as if they had the fabled Aladin's magical lamp to solve all the problems.

"They claim to be able to solve the Sibu town flood problem if they come into power.

"They have even instigated the people not to vote for the government for its alleged failure to solve the problem.

"But they are big liars, as they do not have any plan or programme at all.

"In contrast, the government is quietly doing what it needs to do. It is getting things done as evidenced by the almost RM500 million it spends on flood mitigation projects," he said.

Taib said because of limited resources, the government had to do things bit by bit or gradually.

"But if people support the opposition in the election, I fear they may worsen the problem," he said.

On the state's regional development corridor of renewable energy (SCORE), he said it could propel Sarawak to become the country's richest state by 2030.

"But in order for this to materialise, the state has got to prepare from now."

Taib said he was ready to lead and guide the state to achieve this but the people themselves must be prepared to work hard and to learn how to tap its (SCORE) huge potential.

He said Sarawak's population was expected to reach 4.5 million by 2030 but it would be a high-income society with people earning three times or more than now.

Listing out the fundamentals of the preparation, Taib said first and foremost, unity among the multi-racial and multi-religious population must be a priority and maintained at all costs.

"Next, we will need people-oriented and sincere leaders with great vision for the future.

"Then, the state must equip its workforce with high technological skills and sophisticated knowledge," he said.

He reminded the people, particularly his Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)party members that the struggle towards making a success of SCORE should be a mutual one.

"We ought to be united, maintain our discipline and most important of all, we must not be mere spectators or commentators but active participants," he said.

-- BERNAMA