Dec. 24 holiday proof of autonomy power
Published on: Sunday, January 05, 2020
By: Larry Ralon
MEMBAKUT: The State Government’s declaration of Dec. 24 as an additional public holiday for Christmas is part of proof that the State Government has autonomy power and is using it to bring about positive change for Sabah and its people, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said the now two-day public holiday for Christmas in Sabah, the first such made by a Sabah Government and would continue as long as Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) continue to helm the State Government, was done without him seeking any approval from Federal.
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“I did not refer to the Federal Government to declare Dec. 24 as a public holiday in Sabah. This is part of the autonomy power of the new State Government and we are exercising it as part of our effort to bring positive change in Sabah and for the people,” he told reporters at a Christmas and New Year 2020 celebration organised by KDM Malaysia in town, here, Saturday. Mohd Shafie, who is Warisan President, also refuted the opposition parties’ claim that there were no changes by the Warisan-led State Government during the one year and nine months in power, saying many measures have actually been undertaken within that short period of time.
“We have taken measures and made improvements, including the state delivery system. But our effort to bring further improvement will not be successful if the people do not want to take part in it, to assist and support the effort…there are many more efforts to be made,” he said. He advised the people of Sabah to say enough is enough to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) which had been given a chance for so many years during their time at the helm of the state government.
“Because only then (rejecting Umno and BN) we can see changes in Sabah and for its people. Well, they (BN) can promise us whatever there is but we know and realised that it will only be left as promises, because I and my other colleagues in Warisan and Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah were also previously in Umno,” he said.
On whether Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would take part in the campaigning, Mohd Shafie said Dr Mahathir is busy with the country’s administration and is leaving the campaigning to Warisan and Pakatan Harapan Sabah. “He (Dr Mahathir) told me he is a bit busy and thus leaving it to our side,” he said.
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On the Prime Minister transition and the calls for him (Dr Mahathir) to step down, Mohd Shafie said he has told Dr Mahathir that the State Government will continue to give its fullest support to him as Prime Minister.
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KDM Malaysia President, Datuk Peter Anthony, who is also State Infratructure Development Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Upko President, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Deputy Chief Minister and Warisan Vice President, Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sabah Chief, Datuk Hajiji Haji Noor, his Deputy Chief Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and other State leaders, were also present.
