Mahathir is full of contradictions, says Pairin

The Sabah deputy chief minister says the state’s development may be affected if Dr Mahathir Mohamad is prime minister again.

Pairin (in suit) being greeted by well-wishers at the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s open day in Kota Kinabalu today. He refused to confirm if he would contest in the coming polls.

KOTA KINABALU: PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan says Sabah will receive the same uncaring treatment from Dr Mahathir Mohamad if the latter is made prime minister again.

Hitting out at Mahathir as “a man full of contradictions”, the Sabah deputy chief minister questioned the 93-year-old Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman’s sincerity in helping the nation, particularly Sabah.

Pairin said during Mahathir’s 22 years as prime minister, the former premier not only sidelined the state but also implemented questionable initiatives such as the two-year chief ministership rotation scheme despite admitting it was not in Sabah’s best interests.

“He acknowledged that two years were not enough … he said it himself. He knew it (rotation scheme) was damaging but he purposely implemented it because he did not care for the people here.

“So, he’s a man full of contradictions. He is not sincere to the Sabah people,” Pairin said after launching the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s open day here today.

The Sabah chief minister rotation system was scrapped in 2004.

The Huguan Siou, or paramount leader of the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community, also recalled an episode after the 1985 state election which he said exemplified Mahathir’s disinterest in Sabah.

“It was post-election time when PBS had just won the state election and I became the chief minister.

“When he (Mahathir) arrived here, he didn’t even know who the CM was.

“That means he had no heart for Sabah,” Pairin said, adding that Mahathir also seldom visited Sabah.

Pairin said Mahathir’s declaration that he wanted to “save” the nation was merely to serve the political agenda of the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate.

“He wants to become the PM, doesn’t he? Instead of saying ‘I’m sorry, I did not help Sabah, (he is saying) even though at 93, I want to help now’.

“Can you believe that? Their (PH) agenda is not sincere, especially for Sabah, as they only want to rule.”

Pairin said this was in stark contrast to how things were under the government led by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“It has been proven under Najib’s leadership that the fruits are enjoyed by the people. We do not want the development momentum to be disrupted.

“He (Najib) was the only one who responded to the needs and requests from us in Sabah, not only in terms of infrastructure, economic strength but also security,” he said.

Pairin also said that the alliance between Parti Warisan Sabah and PH was questionable.

“The electoral pact is, at the moment, not crystalised. They are still ‘terumbang ambing’ (in shambles).

“It’s not in writing and there’s nothing tangible. The usage of the logo has not been sorted out as well,” he said.

Pairin coy on being a candidate

The deputy chief minister again parried questions on whether he would be contesting in the coming polls, saying “all would be known on nomination day”.

“I have six grandchildren now and I definitely enjoy being with them.

“At the moment, I am for retirement but there’s still that 1% too,” he said, referring to his previous statement when he said that there was a 99% chance that he would retire and not contest in the 14th general election (GE14).

“The only thing that can lure me back is the opportunity to be of service to the people, that’s all.

“If I am wanted, I am still around,” he said.

Pairin, 78, confirmed that a PBS internal committee was discussing the implications of him not being part of the coming election.

“The committee is talking about this. So we shall wait and see what’s their decision,” he said. -- FMT