KOTA KINABALU: The government will consider any recommendation and suggestion forwarded to it, even if it is related to politics, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said yesterday.
ENVIRONMENT CONCERN: Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with Tun Jeanne Abdullah (second left) and Pairin (second right) visit the exhibition in conjunction with the International Conference on Forest and Climate Change. Also present is Sabah Forestry director Datuk Sam Manan (left). — Bernama Photo
He said many people, especially in Sabah, had expressed concern over the people’s well-being and had come up with numerous ideas.
“Whatever the programmes or suggestions brought forward by the people or leaders (even of opposition parties) will, of course, be taken into consideration,” he told reporters after opening the International Conference on Forest and Climate Change here.
Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president, was asked to comment on a recent suggestion by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to amend the Federal Constitution to reinstate the anti-hop law to prevent elected representatives from switching political parties without giving up their seats.
“If they want to bring it (suggestion to reinstate the law) up for debate or consideration in the Dewan Rakyat, by all means they can do so,” he said.
However, Pairin said the government would focus on other programmes namely development programmes for the people before anything else could be considered.
“There are things that need to be looked into as far as the people are concerned.”
“I think the prime minister’s approach, such as the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) and National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) are much more the focus at this particular time,” he said. — Bernama