PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan urged party members to gather information on the people’s grouses on the ground.
“We realise there are a lot of grouses from the grassroots, so it is our hope that PBS members would work together, learn these problems and get the feedback from the people and pass all information to the party leaders.
“By doing so, you are helping in strengthening the party and prepare us for any eventualities,” the Deputy Chief Minister said in his speech at the 25th PBS annual general assembly at Hongkod Koisaan here on Thursday.
Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, noted that issues pertaining to illegal immigrants, power sharing and poor distribution of development projects were among the concerns of the people but he assured that they will come up with a solution to meet the members and people’s demands.
“I am honoured to be given the mandate to bring such issues to the attention of the top leaders, both at the state and federal levels. We need to enhance our relationship and cooperation with them,” he said.
“We also realise that the general election is approaching; it is scheduled to be in 2013, but with the recent development, it is not impossible that the election be called early, so what is important is how we reach out to the grassroots, we have to let them know that we are representing them, make our presence felt … this is how we can further strengthen our party,” he said.
“We must make sure that all projects reach the target group. So please return to you respective areas, find out and investigate what is lacking and come up with a report and working papers for us to pursue (with the top leadership),” he said.
On the issue of increased allowances for Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) members, he said the recent announcement was meant for those in the Peninsular Malaysia.
“It has yet to be expanded to East Malaysia. So it is my hope that the JKKKs will continue to perform their duties without any high expectations in return. We realise that a bigger allowance is good but if we are dedicated enough, we must be able to serve and help the people without hoping for any returns,” he said
On power sharing issues, Pairin said claims of monopolising by certain quarters will be looked into seriously and that he has directed the party’s secretary general to issue a letter to all party divisions to gather information on the problems faced so that it can be further discussed before it is forwarded to the top leadership.
Meanwhile, Pairin said he was unhappy that some delegates had taken personal issues to the assembly.
“It would be better if such issues are brought to my attention personally, there is no need to say at our assembly here), you could have just called me to place your complaints…such issues need specific approach,” he said.
He was referring to the claims by Liawan and Bingkor delegates about misconduct by the people appointed by the PBS president to carry out the duties on his behalf.
They claimed that the representatives had misused their power to gain projects and failed to inform the division heads on the existence of development projects in their areas.
“Such information should be informed to me immediately. We should be able to discuss this issue at the division level… let this be a reminder that when such matter arises, you can contact and discuss with me immediately over the phone or other relevant people, we will be able to find solution to such problem,” he said.
A total of 13 delegates debated Pairin’s policy speech as opposed to only nine the previous year.
Most of them talked about pressing issues such as presence of illegal immigrants, unfair power sharing, poverty and more women representation in the Parliament.
Some even demanded PBS fight for more seats in the next general election as what other component parties are doing.
“If a political party can demand a seat which belongs to us, there is nothing wrong to demand to put our men to stand in their areas in the next general election,” quipped Christopher Mandut, the PBS Youth vice chief.
PBS Women exco member Kamsiah Andong said the recent victory of new Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin showed that the women’s roles are excepted by the voters.
“So it would not hurt to ask to have at least another woman representative in the Parliament … it will not only bring good to the welfare of women at large but also the to the party and the state.”
Hairie Buyug Limbat, the PBS Kiulu vice chief, meanwhile suggested each division to use social network such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the good news of the party and BN.
“The opposition are already using this Facebook and Twitter to tarnish BN, so we can provide the truth through the same method,” he said.