Kota Kinabalu: With the 17th Sabah election now over and won by GRS, it is time to put aside politicking and move forward, said Sabah veteran politician Datuk David Chong Ket Sui.
He said the people had already made their choice through the ballot box in a true democratic process.
He added that the new GRS-led Government will now work with other parties, including Pakatan Harapan, Upko, Star Sabah and independent representatives, to form a government with a simple majority.
Chong said Hajiji, during the campaign, had highlighted several pledges in the GRS manifesto, and the people hoped he would fulfil all of them.
One of the most crucial issues, he said, is the absence of a Deputy Chief Minister from the Chinese community.
He added that this can be addressed by the Chief Minister, as the Chinese community expects him to appoint a capable representative who can work effectively with the government.
Since Hajiji had pledged to appoint a Chinese leader as one of the three Deputy Chief Ministers, Chong said the candidate could be selected from among the appointed assemblymen.
“The candidate must be experienced and capable of carrying out his duties,” he stressed.
He added that with Hajiji now given a new mandate, the community also hopes the Federal Government will fulfil the promises made during the campaign.
“When Sabah starts receiving the 40 per cent special grant payment, the state will have sufficient funds for development, particularly to address long-standing issues such as electricity and water supply, road maintenance and internet connectivity,” he said.
c“The new government should take stern action and replace them with reliable contractors,” he said, adding that the old system had undermined the government’s delivery and performance.
He said many previous contractors failed to carry out their responsibilities, tarnished the government’s image and angered the public.
As a result, he said the Chinese community became frustrated and shifted their support to the opposition to send a strong message that non-performing contractors must be removed.
“The Chinese community is not against the government. What they reject is the poor performance of those entrusted with responsibilities but who failed to meet expectations,” he said.
He added that the longstanding issues have greatly affected business operations, leading to dissatisfaction within the community.
