NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN SABAH

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s decision to appoint four ministers and five deputy ministers from Sabah in the new federal cabinet is an acknowledgement of the ability and contribution of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN), said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Chief Chin Shu Ying.

“We are also glad that the four ministers from Sabah are now in charge of four important ministries in the new Cabinet,” he said yesterday.

Chin said the appointment of Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the new Rural and Regional Development Minister reflected the sensitivity of Najib to the needs and aspirations of the people in Sabah.

“We believe the appointment will ensure the proper and effective implementation of projects for rural development in Sabah. All the rural development projects must be implemented according to the actual needs of the rural people.”

“Previously, there are some projects which were implemented solely due to the interest of certain individuals without taking into account the actual needs of the people, causing the wastage of millions of Ringgit.”

“The new minister must put a stop to all these practices and ensure each of the rural development projects will benefit the people directly,” said Chin, adding LDP Youth also welcomed the appointment of Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman as the new Foreign Minister and Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as the new Home Minister.

“As the Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifah is now in a good position to engage actively with his Philippine counterpart to find a permanent solution to the huge number of Filipino illegal workers and refugees staying in Sabah.”

“An as for Datuk Seri Hishammuddin, we hope he will resolve the long outstanding issue of illegal immigrants (PTI) and refugees in Sabah, apart from restoring the good image of the Police. And, we also have full confidence that Datuk Seri Hishammuddin will not allow the ISA to be misused,” he added.

Chin said the appointment of UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok as the new Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister is also good news to Sabah, as this will enable the latter to help the smaller plantations in Sabah more effectively.