BN Will Deliver Promise To Provide Basic Rural Infrastructure In Sabah

SEMPORNA, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) is serious in delivering its promise to provide basic rural infrastructure in Sabah and improve the quality of life of the people.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was sincere in bringing improvements and development to the people, as seen through the priorities outlined in the six National Key Result Areas, which included a focus on basic rural infrastructure.

"Plans have been drawn and funds are being provided for the NKRAs especially under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, to allow Sabah to catch up with other states.

"And Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is working hard to fulfill this NKRA that is entrusted to his ministry," he said.

In addressing Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) delegates at the opening of the joint annual general meeting of the Sulabayan and Senalang divisions here Tuesday, he said the people should thus support the Government's efforts and ignore the wishful promises and negative campaign of the opposition.

Ongkili, who is also PBS deputy president and Kota Marudu MP, also touched on land issues which he said posed a serious problem to Sabah especially in Beluran, Semporna, Pitas and Kota Marudu.

The problems involved overlapping claims, large tracts awarded to companies that overlap with customary rights land, communities being forcibly removed for alleged intrusion into gazetted government land and long delays in surveying and processing of land applications.

He, however, expressed appreciation for the effort being undertaken by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who had promised to solve these problems.

Ongkili expressed regret over the action of certain quarters in handling the land dispute, including bullying the villagers into vacating the land.

"Civil servants should be professional in their work and act based on fairness and justice, respect for human dignity and avoid doing barbaric things such as burning houses and poisoning agricultural crops to force the villagers to move out," he said and called on parties from both sides to act rationally and civilly in the dispute.

He also said party leaders were willing to listen to the grouses of the people and act as the "servants of the people" to relate their needs and grievances to the authorities, in line with the Government's People First, Performance Now concept of governance.

PBS Sulabayan deputy chief Kada Julkarnain had raised the recent incident of authorities burning houses and making arrests in the land dispute in Mount Pork and Nangus in Semporna.

Earlier, Ongkili visited the Chemistry Department branch in Tawau which is 90 per cent completed. Renovation work at the rented premises is expected to be completed in two week's time before inspection by the Works Department.

Dr Ongkili is expected to open the department branch in October. It will be the second Chemistry Department branch in Sabah and will serve the east coast.