By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Oct 14: More Sarawak and Sabah MPs should be appointed to important positions and ministries in the Federal government to accelerate development in both Bornean states, opined Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Abdul Karim, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president, said Sarawak and Sabah need representation with ministers from both states because they have a better understanding of which areas need to be developed locally.
“I am not saying that the ministers from Peninsular Malaysia are not good, but the problem is that whenever somebody gets appointed (from Peninsular Malaysia), they hardly come down to visit us.
“For example, if someone who is appointed as rural development minister is from Peninsular Malaysia, you can check how many times they would actually come to Sarawak between one and five years.
“They hardly come, so how are they going to know what happens in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said during a press conference at Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK) today.
Abdul Karim said the mindset to this matter needs to change and those who are going to become prime minister must ensure that this disparity in development doesn’t get any wider.
“These little things need to be considered, or else if the gap gets too wide, it will lead to dissatisfaction, and many other things will arise,” he added.
Abdul Karim pointed out that leaders in Peninsular Malaysia also need to look at it from a different perspective.
He emphasised that Sarawak, Sabah and Malaysia as a whole should move forward as developed country together.
“Don’t just develop the Peninsular, while the region where we get oil and gas revenue is not developed,” he said. — DayakDaily
