'More needs to be done to help Sabah and Sarawak be on par with other states'

 

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during a special interview with senior news editors at his house on Friday. - Pic courtesy of PMO

PUTRAJAYA: More needs to be done to help Sabah and Sarawak be on par with other states in the peninsular, including developing better infrastructure and connectivity.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was among the reasons why he created a special portfolio to oversee matters on East Malaysia as one of the main priorities of the Perikatan Nasional government.

This, he said, was reflected in the appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) and his deputy (Mukah member of Parliament, Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib).

"I have also convened meetings with the chief ministers of the states on negotiations and claims relating to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

"In fact, I have also resolved the settlement between Petronas and Sarawak."

Muhyiddin said this in a special interview with senior news editors at his house on Friday.

The interview was held in conjunction with Perikatan Nasional's one year anniversary in administration. The New Straits Times was represented by senior news editor Faridul Anwar Farinordin at the interview.

Citing a case where a university student had to climb up a tree to get better Internet connectivity in Sabah, he said this showed that more needed to be done to improve Internet services as well as other technological development there.

"Nevertheless, there are also states in the peninsular that are lagging behind compared to other states.

"Although such matters are legacy issues left behind by the previous administration, the PN government must find ways to bridge the income gap as enshrined in the 2030 Shared Prosperity Vision Blueprint," he added. - NST