‘BN bullying, lying to Sabahans’

Opposition assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan claimed BN was playing politics with government responsibilities.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah state assembly representatives on the other side of the divide are struggling to fend off claims by Barisan Nasional coalition leaders that only the BN can bring development to the various constituencies.

One of them has even called the claim a deception aimed at misleading ordinary Malaysians especially in the rural constituencies where many have been waiting for better basic facilities and amenities such as clean water, steady electricity supply and even roads.

Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan, who’s been the most vocal said that it was disconcerting to note that it had become the standard for the Umno and BN leaders to make big claims but not be forthcoming when they are in power.

“It is sad for Malaysia that BN ministers and BN leaders have to stoop so low to continue with lies and deception to fool ordinary Malaysians that only the Barisan Nasional can bring about development for their constituencies

“This is used against the opposition and played up by the mainstream media controlled by the Umno/BN government,” he said, adding that even the media that is not controlled by the BN feel bullied and threatened to such an extent that the news becomes distorted or censored.

“The truth is that the statement that only Umno/BN can bring about development is a blatant lie,” he said when making a point that the same coalition government had ignored the needs of the people when the same constituencies were under their sway.

Kitingan said it was frustrating to note that such statements were accepted as the ‘truth’ by simple rural folk who had been starved of development assistance owed to them by any responsible government.

These people, he said, are being conned into believing that whatever development projects that are being implemented in their villages is not their right but a gift by the Umno/BN government.

“Even official government projects are advertised in billboards as another project by the BN. Nothing is further from the truth,” Kitingan said.

He said it was sad that the government had to perpetuate these lies to erase the line between the responsibility of any government and the Umno/BN.

“They are different when it comes to implementing projects.  The undisputed fact is that every single government project is not by Umno/BN but by the ruling government of the day.

“When the Umno/BN do not form the ruling government, the development projects will still be undertaken by the non-Umno/BN government.

“Development projects do not stop if Umno/BN do not form the government. It is the responsibility of the ruling government of the day to undertake development projects whether it is a school, a road, road repairs or even basic treated water and electricity,” he said.

BN failure

Kitingan who is also STAR Sabah chairman, said the BN was playing politics with government responsibilities.

“If any people do not get treated water but just gravity-fed water supply or no electricity supply or no proper sealed roads, it only means that the ruling government has failed the people.

“The failure is that of the government that is led by Umno/BN.

“The people need to realise the truth behind these lies. For instance in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, the projects are undertaken by the government of the day which is the Pakatan.

“The Umno/BN in these states carry out no project whatsoever other than projects which are undertaken by the federal government,” he pointed out.

He said it was despicable that the federal and state governments were holding back on development projects to punish the people in opposition-held constituencies.

“They have no right to deprive the people in opposition constituencies of any development project as it the right of any individual to vote whichever party he or she chooses.

“If the Umno/BN-led federal and state governments still wish to use development projects as their trump card to punish voters who voted for the opposition, then they should stop collecting taxes from these opposition voters.

“Let only Umno/BN voters pay taxes and let the Umno/BN government to use these taxes to fund their development projects.

“The same goes for BR1M hand-outs. The money that funds these BR1M hand-outs are public money contributed by all tax-payers not only Umno/BN party members or their voters,” he contended.

He quipped that  Umno/BN leaders would next be claiming to be Santa Clauses when giving out these BR1M hand-outs during the festive season and claim credit for them even though the money does not belong to them.