Salleh supports Masidi on SMK Nabalu issue

Salleh supports Masidi on SMK Nabalu issue

KOTA BELUD July 7, 2011: Assembly Speaker, Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Tun Said has expressed full support to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun for highlighting the need for leaders to honour their promises to the electorate.

Citing the issue of the long-awaited construction of SMK Nabalu in Tuaran, he said Masidi’s recent criticism of Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, branding the latter as an “outsider who cannot fulfil promises” should be viewed from the proper perspective.

This followed the long delay in implementing the proposed school project since two years ago.

“What Masidi has said were the right things. Certainly we know the procedures (with regard to tenders) but do not simply come here (to Sabah) and make empty promises.

“If we want to make an announcement of an approved project including the construction of a new secondary school…do it rationally. Otherwise it may affect or jeopardise the good image of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government,” he told reporters after the excellence awards presentation at SMK Arshad, here yesterday.

Mohd Salleh, who is also Sabah Umno deputy liaison chief, was commenting Dr Mohd Puad’s hard-hitting response to Masidi’s criticism over the SMK Nabalu issue.

Recently, Masidi was quoted by the media as having been at the Pekan Nabalu Community Hall in August in 2009 when Dr Mohd Puad promised in front of nearly 100 local community leaders that the RM35 million SMK Nabalu project would start the following year. But the project had not materialised until last Monday when Dr Mohd Puad announced, in his visit to Pulau Gaya, near the state capital, that the construction of SMK Nabalu would commence early next month (August).

In this respect, Mohd Salleh thanked the Federal government for approving and providing the allocation for the construction of SMK Nabalu which is located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

He said this showed the government’s seriousness in upgrading the standard of education in the state, particularly in the rural areas.

“Let’s put the matter behind us and look forward to the future…We should let bygones be bygones,” Mohd Salleh said of the SMK Nabalu issue, urging the people, especially those in Nabalu, to rally behind the government to make their dreams a reality.