Former MP offers advice to Warisan
Published on: Saturday, June 27, 2020
By: Larry Ralon
Kota Kinabalu: Former Sepanggar MP Datuk Jumat Idris (pic) said Parti Warisan should set aside its party, political and personal interests and work with the current PN Federal Government because Sabah and its people greatly need Federal allocations to progress like other states. “(But) if they still want to continue playing politics, I think it is good to change the current State Government with another that works (aligned/friendly) with the current Federal Government,” he told a press conference held at Mee Pangsit Café in Sembulan here late Wednesday.
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Jumat, who supported Chief Minister and Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal when they were previously in Umno until his party membership was suspended and had been supporting Warisan leaders despite not being a member, said it is for the interests of Sabah and its people.
He said judging from what is seen in the social media many are not happy with the current political situation because most politicians have lost focus.
“During this time when the people are confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic and a gloomy economy, these should be given the focus.
“But lately there has been too much politicking, where at the Federal-level we heard and see it is between (former premier) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim. For a while they teamed up, and then they split up...all these are confusing the people who are fed up.
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“The same when we look at the politics in Sabah which is presently not that stable.
“The latest we heard is that the State Government will change hands. The talks are that 17 elected state assemblymen will jump to become Independents and then support the opposition.
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“This also made the people confused. Those who voted for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the last general election are definitely angry. The present State Government led by Warisan is also not a government with absolute victory.
“Warisan won 21 seats and only ruled the State after it formed a coalition with other parties namely Upko, DAP and PKR...(so) if there is a crack within Warisan, it is not a surprise because there are internal problems leading to elected state assemblymen hopping party to support others,” he said.
He also disagreed with the notion that the 17 or 18 assemblymen will leave the Warisan-led State Government parties because they had been “bought” because to him, every leader or elected representative have their respective leadership style and credibility, as well as their own reason to change their direction or party.
“Definitely the State Government requires huge funds for development and for paying the state civil servant salaries. We fear that if the Covid-19 situation continues the State Government will definitely be facing insufficiency in allocation.”
So, it is not impossible for a change in the State Government.
“If there is a change in the State Government, the group who will take over should look for a leader who has credibility, clean, without baggage.
“We cannot continue on with the old political style, as today’s geopolitics is different, because the people wants progress, development, their socio-economic safeguarded,” he said.
On the IMMI13 issue, he said it is a government document recognised by the United Nations (UN) which are meant for refugees. “I concur with (former Chief Minister and SAPP President) Datuk Yong Teck Lee that IMM13 is purely for the war refugees. It is not for the illegal immigrants who should be dealt with according to the law of our country.
“So in general, the illegal immigrants must be arrested and sent home because they came here illegally. If they have a job here, or families here, they need to go back to their respective country and get themselves documented before they come back to Sabah,” he said.
Jumat said the people of Sabah understand that the State needs foreign workers but they must have valid documents, while sharing the concern among the people about the existence of “new Malaysians” meaning foreigners who have Malaysian identity card (IC).
“This problem needs to be dealt with by the Government. This is the job of the Home Ministry and all leaders in Sabah including members of parliament and state assemblymen of the government and the opposition, to come up unbiased action without letting their differences to interfere for solving the problem.
Jumat said it is not that the Federal Government would not channel assistance to Sabah when the State is under opposition State Government, but it is already a known tactic that the Federal Government would be reluctant to give allocation direct to the State Government.
“That the reason for the creation of the Federal Development Department (JPPS), which shows that the Federal Government did not favour the State Government to manage Federal-funded development.
On the Warisan-led State Government’s continued support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Jumat said he personally thinks that Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie should forget Pakatan Harapan (PH) or PH Plus.
“We have been thinking about these two individuals (Dr Mahathir and Anwar) since the past 20, 25 years. Dr Mahathir had been given a chance (to be Prime Minister), and no one was able to topple him, but he collapsed by his own doing., so we had enough of him,” he said.
Jumat believes people need to give a chance to the PN Federal Government under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin which have been successful in dealing with Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
“Muhyiddin has commanded great support from the people who like his style of leadership.
“He (Muhyiddin) did not talk about politics at the time when we are facing the pandemic. So this is the kind of leadership that we want. Although his is in a very fragile position, where anytime he can tumble, (but) he never show to the people his worry. He is worried about the people’s interests, their welfare, more.
“And previously the PH has keep on telling us about the country’s debt to the tune of RM1 trillion. But suddenly the PN Federal Government was able to provide a lot of monetary assistance to the people until some have received up to RM2,600 throughout the pandemic period.
“So this proves that the country is still capable, not as claimed by the PH leaders before this.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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