Bung calls for action plan against 3 ‘main enemies’
Published on: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Bung urged the State Government to formulate a new action plan in eradicating Sabah’s three “main enemies” that are (the lack of) water and electricity and poor road conditions.
Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN - Lamag) urged the State Government to formulate a new action plan in eradicating Sabah’s three “main enemies” that are (the lack of) water and electricity and poor road conditions.
He said the State Government is yet to announce a comprehensive one, particularly in infrastructure and agriculture, which are the basis of breaking the poverty chain.
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“We keep debating but it leads to nowhere. Since 1964 Sabah has always been the last among other states.
“If we keep it up, the eight poorest Malaysian districts which are in Sabah will remain that way.
“It’s time for our ministers to think outside the box and fully use the abundance of our primary resources,” he said at the State Assembly sitting, Monday.
He gave an example of how Sarawak has produced and sold thousands of megawatts and yet Sabah is still talking about its independent power producers.
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“The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mafi) must also plan in terms of land blocks and not just 500 or 1,000 acres of paddy field if we really want to be self-sufficient in rice.
“We need our own granary! Don’t exhaust the rakyat’s and Government’s money for a failed project in years to come,” he said.
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He said tourism should be the second engine in generating the local economy.
Yet, Bung debated that the Government is not providing tourist recommendations for a better spillover. He also supported having more local tour guides.
“Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) should also set up an ‘eastern corridor’ for the said eight poorest districts because the norm has been just to find allocations and distribute them.
“I also want to know the full detail of a recent announcement claiming 13,000 Sabahans have been raised out of poverty,” he said.
He asked if the Government keeps track of all infrastructural development in Sabah because he had received a report that Membakut Hospital closes at 6pm.
“After hours, they just provide a phone number for emergencies. There is a story of family who came and called the number hundreds of times to no avail.
“When they finally arrived at the Beaufort Hospital, the victim was dead,” he said.
He also wondered why the State Secretariat is on the board of directors of multiple GLC, and demanded to know how many and how much money is being earned besides his salary.
Bung denied being petty for raising the issue of Sabah Maju Jaya signboards erected across the State, saying he was voicing the people’s grouses.
“You can even find the signboards in forests. But the signboard for Membakut, which has been granted a full district status, still has its old signboard which says sub-district.
“On top of the sign in a Sabah Maju Jaya signboard. How do we ‘maju’ (progress) with this mentality. Now don’t get angry at me, I am asking on behalf of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, he told the State Government not to look down on the opposition as they can also be of service in aiding the people.
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