KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Salleh Said Keruak has refuted the interpretation of the survey findings by the Merdeka Centre that Sabah is lacking in development and its infrastructure are poor.
Salleh said that on the contrary there is never ending development commitment carried out in the state, with infrastructure, especially water and electricity, being implemented at a most rapid pace.
At the same time, both development and infrastructure are localised, and are not often highlighted in the media, he said.
“Hence to state that there is a lack of development and poor infrastructure is not accurate, not when all sorts of development are taking place throughout the state all the time, such as the Kota Kinabalu International Airport extension works, the ammonia and urea plant, power producing stations, roads, and industrial parks, to mention some,” he said.
Salleh said: “Rural water and electrification programmes have picked up in 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.”
“People often complain about a lack of development or poor infrastructure as these are common issues, but those who have got both are appreciative of what the Government is doing or has done.”
Salleh, who is also State Assembly Speaker, said some problems cannot be solved overnight; it is deep-rooted and when steps are taken to clear the matter, some people would be happy but there would also be others who would object.
The survey, jointly funded by the Merdeka Centre and a regional consultancy firm, was carried out from Sept 6 to 17 to gauge perceptions of current development in Sabah.
The report report stated that a total of 829 registered voters throughout the state were interviewed, and there were those who felt the state was headed in the right direction and expressed continued satisfaction at the pace of economic development and the continuing peaceful conditions in the state.
Salleh, who did not dismiss the report outright, said that looking at it objectively, it gave the Sabah Barisan Nasional the opportunity to know what was on the minds of the people and to take proactive action to address outstanding issues.
“If what has been reported is correct, then the Sabah BN must take stock of the situation and take steps to correct the misconception that the state is lagging in development.
“Our elected representatives should point out the inaccuracies to the people, and should highlight various development and infrastructure projects, in the local media or using their own efforts, such as a community newsletter, Facebook or their own blogs.
“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.
As for the illegal immigrants, Salleh said that now that the Royal Commission of Inquiry has started its mission, it should be left to the wisdom of its members to carry out their task, and those with grouses, can go up and meet them.
“But let us allow them to carry out their job in the meantime and see what their recommendations are at the end of the day.
“The Government is indeed serious about tackling the illegal immigrants issue and all concerned should lend their support,” he said.
It has been reported that the RCI would also investigate whether immigrants in Sabah, who possessed blue identity card, temporary identification receipt (blue) or citizenship in an illegal manner, had been registered in the electoral roll.
It has been given six months from Sept 21 to complete the investigation,, and their report must be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/04/findings-on-sabah-devt-flawed-salleh/#ixzz28OZdxXcN
