Bersatu’s entry: Darell leaves it to Shafie
Published on: Sunday, February 17, 2019
PENAMPANG:
Warisan Deputy President Datuk Darell Leiking (pic) said it is better to wait for Party President and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to issue a response on the issue of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s intention to enter Sabah.
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“Just be patient. Shafie will issue a statement tomorrow (Sunday). He will say the right things,” he said, after officiating the Robotik dan IoT Malaysia (MARii) Satellite Sabah premises, here, Saturday.
On whether the move by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Bersatu may affect his position as International Trade and Industry Minister, he said he doesn’t have an answer to this.
“I don’t know as my position in the Cabinet is up to the Prime Minsiter but my position (as MP) in Penampang is up to the people of Penampang.”
He reiterated that although there are opposition leaders (former Sabah Umno) who have joined Bersatu, it would not affect the present Warisan state government’s administration of the state.
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“The positions in the State Government are up to the Sabah Chief Minister,” he said, adding that even Dr Mahathir had said former Umno politicians who join Bersatu will not hold positions in the cabinet and party.
“From what I understand these politicians who will join Bersatu are the same ones who Warisan contested against in the last general election. So now they are trying to look for a way to be part of the government again.”
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Asked when was the last time he had been in touch with Shafie, Darrell said he is in touch every day and that his president “is busy working to save the state from any evil people”.
Leiking had been among Warisan leaders who were vocal in rejecting PPBM entering Sabah. He was also previously reported as saying he was confident that Tun Dr Mahathir would keep the promise not to expand to the State.
When officiating the State-level Community Development Unit (UPPM) convention in Tawau earlier, Leiking reminded leaders, including those at the grass-roots level to honour their promises, including carrying out their duties to implement development projects.
“UPPM should also preserve their integrity so that they can always obtain the people’s trust, as well as to avoid bad habits, including bribe,” he said.
“Another prevalent negative element is betrayal. When the people give their trust to us, but we betray them, then that is a ‘big sin’ in politics…this should not be part of our culture.”
Leiking also said UPPM plays the important role of a mediator to explain the government’s policies to the people.
“Sometimes, the people are easily influenced by news spread on social media, and some of them are untrue.
“These fake news, if they are being repeated and forwarded without prior checks, they will be perceived as true by some,” he said.
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On the programme, Leiking hoped the convention can be used as a platform to find the best method to sustain the people’s confidence on the government of the day and to elevate Sabah to a better level.
The two-day convention was attended by some 1,000 UPPM from all over the State. - Neil Chan