KUCHING: The promise of creating and offering a deputy prime minister post will not have much traction with voters in Sarawak and Sabah.
National Council of Professors senior fellow Datuk Jeniri Amir has described such a promise as “an insult to the people of the both states.”
“The people of Sarawak and Sabah are not stupid,” he told FMT.
“They deserve to be given not only the DPM’s post but also the prime minister’s post,” he added.
He said the pledges from Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were empty promises that had been made before, such as by PH in its manifesto for the 2018 general election.
“Such promises remain unfulfilled because they take the people of Sabah and Sarawak for granted,” Jeniri said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah lecturer Anantha Raman Govindasamy said economic developments as well as bread and butter issues are more important to them than the appointment of DPMs.
“This is especially the case with Sabah, one of the biggest producers of natural resources and yet one of the poorest states in Malaysia.”
On Sunday, Zahid said BN, if it were to win in the coming general election, would appoint three deputy prime ministers – one each from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
On Monday, Anwar made a similar pledge, but limited it to a DPM from the peninsula and another from Sabah or Sarawak.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has recently welcomed the pledges, however, stressed that it was important to know whether the DPM would have the power to approve projects or certain allocations.
