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Umno: Unfair to say Sabah is lagging
03-Oct-2012, freemalaysiatoday.com
K. Pragath

PETALING JAYA: Sabah Umno deputy chief Salleh Said Keruak has denied that there is a lack of development and infrastructure in the state.

“It would not be fair to say that there has been a lack of development when a huge chunk of the state budget, supplemented by federal funding, goes into all sorts of development,” he said.

He said this in reference to a Merdeka Centre survey done with a regional consultancy firm from Sept 6 to 17 to gauge perception of current developments in Sabah.

A total of 829 registered voters were interviewed. Some of them complained about the lack of development and infrastructure as well as the illegal immigration problem in Sabah.

Salleh said that the development and infrastructure in Sabah is localised.

“Rural water and electrification programmes have picked up pace over the last few years and it is only the exceptionally remote areas with small communities that are still without piped water and electricity.

“Even then, the government is doing its best to provide water tanks and gravity water as well as generator-powered electricity to the remote villages in the interim,” he added.

Contrary to the survey, Salleh listed the Kota Kinabalu airport extension, ammonia and urea plant and power plants as some examples of development projects in Sabah.

He also dismissed complaints over the lack of development and infrastructure as common issues.

Salleh, however, did not completely dismiss the survey because it gives the Sabah BN leaders an opportunity to know the ground sentiments.

“If what has been reported is correct, then the Sabah BN must take stock of the situation and take steps to correct the misperception that development is lagging.

“Our elected representatives should point out the inaccuracies to the people and highlight various development and infrastructure projects in the local media or using their own efforts, such as community newsletters, Facebook or their own blogs,” he said.

On the issue of illegal immigrants within the state, Salleh said it would be best for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations that illegal immigrants are in possession of identity cards and citizenship.

The RCI that began its investigation on Sept 21 is expected to present its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in six months time.