KOTA KINABALU: Sulabayan assemblyman Datuk Harman Mohammad has insisted that Semporna is not the “dirtiest” town in Sabah.
HERE'S THE PROOF ... Harman showing the two awards Semporna won in 2008.
In fact, he said the town, located in the east coast of Sabah, had won two awards in 2008 and 2007 for being the cleanest town and good administration.
“I am disappointed with (Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister) Datuk Masidi Manjun’s remarks when answering additional questions from me during the State Assembly sitting yesterday (Nov 25), labeling Semporna as the dirtiest town in the state,” he said.
Harman said the Semporna District Council came second in Sabah’s Most Cleanest Town Award in 2008 and was awarded the Best Account Management 2008 in the Earliest Submission for Account Statement 2007 by the National Audit Department.
“Both letters were signed by the Local Government and Housing Ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Haji Ujang Sulani.
“The two awards clearly reflect on the recognition given to the Semporna District Council for its efforts to maintain the cleanliness of its town.
“It also shows that the level of cleanliness of the Semporna town is way better than other places in the state,” he said.
Harman was also disappointed that Masidi made the remark following feedback from visitors without even checking the facts on the level of cleanliness of the Semporna town.
“If his statement is based on what he heard from the tourists, then he is no different from opposition leader Lim Kit Siang who had recently made his statement that Sabah is the poorest state based on a report by a foreign analyst.
“It is our hope that he (Masidi) would be more professional when answering questions in the future, and not to answer based on hearsay and being emotional.
“As a minister in-charge of improving and uplifting the tourism industry in the state, he should not have answered my question by saying Semporna is the dirtiest town as it reflects on himself as being unprofessional,” stressed Harman.
He, therefore, invited Masidi to visit Semporna to see for himself the town’s level of cleanliness.