KOTA KINABALU – The open space outside Lintas Boulevard in Lintas Jaya is almost never occupied but last night, the huge gravel and grass expanse that sits between the Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan parliamentary districts was a sea of people.
Some 5,000 people from all three constituencies packed the space in what was dubbed “Super Saturday” by Opposition pact Pakatan Harapan and Warisan, featuring nearly all of the candidates of the three constituencies.
But the crowd was mostly there to catch Sabah’s most prominent Opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal in action.
The diminutive Shafie did not disappoint. The normally mild-mannered Semporna native captured the crowd’s attention for over an hour as he spoke about various issues affecting Sabahans in arguably one of the biggest Opposition gatherings this side of the state.
In between the clicking of cameras, the Parti Warisan Sabah leader reminded Sabahans not to be swayed by the Barisan Nasional government’s money politics and buying of votes that he said would inevitably happen.
“I’m afraid of the weather report on Tuesday. I’m told it would rain heavily. I’m afraid of a wind that will knock on doors and rain money. Three hundred, five hundred, money might fall into people’s homes.
“For God’s sake, my fellow Sabahans. This 500 won’t make you rich in your lifetime,” he said, insinuating that people would be given money to compel them to vote for the BN government.
“I’m sure Sabahans know better this time around. They will not be bought this time around. Sabahans are not for sale, we have integrity. Let me tell you KL, we have integrity,” he said to a roar from the crowd.
Shafie said that the people did not want handouts and piece-meal offerings but job opportunities and development that were better in the long haul.
“Don’t be proud of BR1M. BR1M is only given three times a year, but a good salary is paid every month. Which is better?” he said.
He reminded the people that they should not be grateful for these election handouts as “it is our money after all”.
He said that they would reform Sabah Foundation, which was initially set up to assist Sabahans with scholarships but according to Shafie has since been concentrating on other business investments instead.
“When Warisan is government, we will reform Sabah Foundation and give it to professionals to manage. Their task is to provide youths with opportunities and jobs,” he said.
He took chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman to task, for allegedly allowing the people to become the poorest in the country despite the state’s natural resources and using scare tactics to persuade voters to vote for BN or else move backwards in terms of development.
“But in 55 years under BN, we are backwards anyway.
“Under Mustapha and Harris, we didn’t have to go to KL to find work. People from KL came here for work,” he said, referring to former chief ministers Tun Mustapha Harun and Datuk Harris Salleh.
“We are a rich state. We have timber, aluminium and oil palm,” he said.
Shafie promised the crowd that as government, Warisan would work to ensure that Sabahans would take back their autonomy
“I told Tun Mahathir, when he is prime minister, I will demand that every Petronas activity be done by local companies. Now, even fishing licences come from KL, dive masters in Sipadan also need licences issued by the National Security council. Why is this? We will take it all back.
“We want to enrich companies in the state,” he said.
Shafie said that as part of his plan to provide more jobs for Sabahans, he would set up a factory to make car tyres using the State’s rubber resources.
“I also want an oil palm processing plant. I want a cooking oil made in Sabah from Sabah’s oil palms. All the Giant and Tesco outlets will carry it.
“Let’s not be fixed deposit for BN anymore. We will run this country. I know I can do a better job than Musa,” he said.
– https://www.malaymail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.