Sabah gov’t to look into changes in state policies, says Shafie

The Sabah state government will look into changes in the state policies for the benefit of the people, said Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He said some of the policy changes would include the issuance of deep-sea fishing licences at the state government level.

“All this while, only the federal government has the authority to issue deep-sea fishing licences. However, the state government will study the matter so that it will have the authority to issue the licences,” he said when officiating an extraordinary general meeting of the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) in Penampang today.

Shafie said the state government, led by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), together with Pakatan Harapan and Upko, would ensure consistency in serving the people, including fulfilling the promises of their election manifestos.

“If we (the state government) fail to fulfil the promises, we will be rejected (by the people) in the next general election,” he said.

Shafie, who is also Warisan president, said that the new government would not ignore the welfare of other religions in the state, apart from fighting for Islam.

Earlier, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau, who is also Upko acting president, said the assembly approved three motions, namely, to support the supreme council’s decision to postpone the party’s divisions and branches’ triennial general assembly, for not more than six months from April 21.

“To support and recognise Upko supreme council decisions to quit the BN coalition and the party’s move to set up a coalition government with Warisan, DAP and PKR to continue the party’s struggle, as well as to approve the proposed amendments to the party’s constitution,” he said.

In the 14th general election on May 9, Pakatan Harapan which is made up of Bersatu, DAP, PKR and Amanah defeated BN which had been in power in the country for six decades.

In Sabah, Warisan, DAP and PKR with crossovers from Upko and Umno, the backbone of BN formed the state government.

- Bernama