KUCHING: Sarawak could learn a lot from the just-concluded Kimanis by-election in Sabah, said Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“I believe that as a whole Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPSs) is in a much better position than the loser, Warisan. Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has visionary programmes which are implemented right now,” he said.
Programmes like infrastructure development, modern agriculture, water grid, rural development, digital economy, and B40 wealth sharing are progressively implemented, he pointed out.
He explained that all levels of GPS leadership need to do now is carry out widespread publicity to raise public awareness and explain government programmes to the people.
“Every leader at all strata of the component parties as well as community leaders of every level cannot distance themselves from informing the people under their charge about what the state government is doing,” he stressed.
He said politicians, community leaders and government officers must act together and talk all the time about the programmes and projects to get them lodged securely in the minds of the public.
“We are fighting for Sarawak political and administrative independence, and to protect Sarawak is everybody’s patriotic duty,” said Wan Junaidi.
On Warisan Sabah (Warisan), he said it was no longer seen to be fighting for Sabah. In fact, it has become a big let-down for Sabahans.
He observed that Warisan promised autonomy for Sabah, employment, development and settling the immigration issue, but has become as quiet as a mouse.
“The situations in Sabah and Malaya are different. But there are certain common factors such as the loss of trust in the present federal government. There are too many unfulfilled promises and too much politicking at the expense of the common people,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the 1MDB issue did not affect Sabahans very much, though the internal issues are more complex.
“In Malaya 1MDB is a big issue. In Sabah there are many local issues including the issue of development. Take note that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal is the minister in-charge of rural development, and people want to know about the unaccounted RM1.5 billion water fund from his ministry.
“And the most contentious issue concerns immigration. While this is a federal matter, Sabah ministers are in-charge of temporary permits and entry into the state,” he said.
He said although Warisan is a local party, the leaders could not claim to be for Sabahans because of their participation in the PH federal government, and they are represented by full ministers and deputy ministers at the federal level.
“They could not claim autonomy from the federal government decision. In other words, the failures of the PH federal government have affected Warisan,” he said.
