YB: Allocation should match constituency
Published on: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Allocation for State constituencies should be given based on the size or area and poor state of each constituency, Suhaimi said. - Pic (right) for illustration only.
Kota Kinabalu: Allocation for State constituencies should be given based on the size or area and poor state of each constituency, said Nominated Assemblyman Datuk Suhaimi Nasir .
He said it is important for the government to consider using such approach when disbursing the allocation for 73 state seats in Sabah, as an effort to accelerate the balance of progress and development.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Currently, the government’s approach is to allocate equal distribution, regardless of the background of the state constituencies (DUN).
“In addition to the approach based on the location of a DUN area, it is also necessary to take into account the background and life status of the people in the seats.
“I believe it is thought to be more fair and thorough, if the government adopts such approach, so that the people of Sabah feel the balance of progress, development and socioeconomics,” Suhaimi said when debating the policy speech of Sabah’s Governor Tun Dr Juhar Mahiruddin at the State Legislative Assembly here on Monday.
He said the time has come for the government to implement such proposed move to implement a different amount of allocation based on the backgrounds and development condition of a state seat.
ADVERTISEMENT
In order to implement the distribution of the different allocations, Suhaimi said it is necessary to create a ratio or basis of distribution, where the government is more knowledgeable about it based on statistical data.
On tourism, he claimed the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment is seen as not serious in helping tourism players in the East Coast of Sabah to promote its tourism products that could attract domestic and foreign tourists to that area.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the tourism industry on the East Coast of Sabah had not received the impact of tourists coming to the State.
“The number of tourist arrivals to Sabah reached 2.61 million last year and is expected to be 2.8 million to three million this year. But tourism products are only concentrated in the West Coast.
“The number of tourists to Sandakan is very low. So, what is the fraction of the number of tourists from the 2.61 million in 2023 that come to Sandakan and the East Coast?
“In addition, of the 2.8 million to 3 million tourists expected to come this year, how many tourists are promoted by the Ministry to come to the East Coast of Sabah?,” Suhaimi asked.
Hence, he called on the Ministry to hold more frequent and interesting tourism programmes especially in Sandakan.
He also called on the State Government and Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) to seriously look into improving facilities and infrastructure being complained and went viral in social media which are lacking and not functioning at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Sandakan Airport.
“We want to attract foreign tourists in larger numbers, but the facilities at KK and Sandakan airports that are not maintained and improved will hinder this effort.
“Hence, I suggest that the State Government together with Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) look into the matter and resolve this issue as soon as possible,” Suhaimi said.
According to him, he repeatedly proposed in the August house that the Ministry should establish direct flights from overseas to Sandakan Airport to attract more tourists to the East Coast of Sabah.
“In conjunction with the Year of Visiting Malaysia in 2026, what are the State Government’s plans for Sandakan and what form of assistance to players in the tourism industry on the east coast,” he asked.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
