KOTA KINABALU: “Work for the people. Leave politicking behind.”
This was a simple reminder from the Sabah Barisan Nasional chief, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, to the leaders in the state.
The Chief Minister said, by focusing on providing the best service to the people, rather than just politicking, it would help build trust to the ruling government.
“Go and spend time with the people, learn their problems and what we can do for them from time-to-time. In BN, we believe that the best way to get to the people is through hard work.
“We have to ensure projects are completed on time so that it would benefit the people better,” he said here yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the State Government Integrity in Governance Committee meeting, Musa said Malaysia is country that practices democracy.
“Anyone is free to set up their own parties. But in BN, we are always focused on meeting our missions and visions that would benefit the people and help improve their livelihood.
“This new party may have their own objectives and methods to lure for votes, but it is all up to the people to judge which party represents them the best, who would bring about greater development and benefits to them,” said Musa when commenting on the expansion of the Peninsular-based Parti Kesejahteraan Tanah Air Malaysia (Parti KITA) to Sabah, recently.
The party, which was set up by former federal minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, had chosen former federal and state minister Datuk Pengiran Othman Rauf, to lead the party in Sabah.
The chief of Parti Gerakan Sabah, Datuk Gordon Leong, in echoing Musa’s words said, that they do not see Parti KITA as a threat, adding that it is just another party from the other camp that is trying to infiltrate into Sabah.
“Malaysia is a democratic country, everyone can contest. But BN has to be prepared because this party, irrespective whether it is strong or not, must not be taken lightly.
“We cannot take things for granted and instead continue to work hard and to be people and service-oriented. After all, it is in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s concept of 1Malaysia. It is always our aim to have ‘People First, Performance Now’ mentality. We must be ever ready. At the end of the day, it is up to the people of Sabah to decide what is best for the state,” he said.
Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, meanwhile, views the expansion of Parti KITA to Sabah as indicative that Malaysia is healthily practicing its democracy.
“I believe that Parti KITA’s presence in Sabah will not bring much impact on our political scenario as we have so many parties within the BN or the opposition camps. But I do believe that they will affect the opposition’s chances in the coming the general elections,” added the Local Government and Housing Minister.
His colleague in Umno, Datuk Masidi Manjun, who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister stressed that it is the democratic right of any political party in Malaysia to set up branches in Sabah.
“It is the same way the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and Umno did before KITA. In fact Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and United PasokMomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko) have each set up branches in Peninsular Malaysia.
“I believe it is up to the Sabahans themselves whether to support KITA or otherwise. I respect the decision of any political party to open any branch in any state in Malaysia as it is their right to do so, it is guaranteed by our Constitution. On that basis, I do not underrate the potential strength of any new party. I wish them well,” added the Karanaan assemblyman.
Putatan member of parliament, Datuk Marcus Mojigoh, was all optimistic about Parti KITA joining the Sabah political scene, saying that, “Malaysia is practicing democracy by Parliament, freedom of expression, therefore KITA is practicing that too. We are all aware that Sabah has the most political parties … no qualm … the more the merrier.”
However, he believes that it was important to know whether the party will get the support of the people.
“These are mooted by some dreamers who are desperate, jumping from one party to another but the people know how to ignore them, they will be rejected again by the people but they will float from nowhere again in every election.
“Parti KITA is not a threat to BN in Sabah. People should not be misled by these people by promising which is impossible for them to deliver because they are definitely not going to win. Votes are therefore wasted. Only the BN government can deliver and that has been proven. That is what the BN government is doing now, which is, delivering back to the voters,” Mojigoh said.
PBS Youth chief Datuk Jahid Jahim also believes that hard work now will pay off later.
“We cannot stop people from setting up a new party and KITA is free to open up branches in Sabah. Representing the Sabah PBS Youth, my team and I will continue working and serving the people to the best of our ability consistently since the first day we were given the mandate by the people in the 2008 general elections.
“Sabahans are intelligent enough to judge ‘seasonal politicians’ who come and go during election time. With due respect, Sabahans deserve to have leaders who have the people at heart, hard working with integrity and able to work together to bring about progress and development for Sabah.”
Sepanggar member of parliament, Datuk Eric Majimbun, meanwhile stressed that the the Peninsular-based party should concentrate on the peninsular.
“Then again, our own Sabahans should also think positively of our own state. Sabahans are intellectual enough and should trust and have the confidence towards our own leaders. Sabahans have the right, the ability and not dependent on leaders from the peninsular, thus being colonised by those opportunists.
“We, Sabahans should positively strive for an administrative autonomy. We should strive in line with the ‘Sabah can do’ and ‘ Sabah boleh’ spirits,” stressed the Sabah Progressive Party deputy president.
Senior politician Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is currently the United Borneo Front (UBF) president said, for Parti KITA to survive in Sabah, it has to operate differently from other existing peninsular-based parties in the state.
“They are new and we have yet to see what they are capable of. Of course they are free to operate here but I think, I will still go back to my original philosophy where peninsular-based parties should remain in the peninsular and Sabah to work within their respective territories, but of course they can work together at the national level,” he said.
Jeffrey, who has served both in the BN coalition and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, also believed that the leader of the party would also determine its success in politics.
“I respect the KITA leader in Sabah for taking up the challenge, and with that, I wish him luck,” he said when asked for his comment of Pengiran Othman.
On the party’s strategies in preparation for the 13th general elections, Jeffrey said if the election is to be held within the next few months, he believes the new party will not have enough time to gain the people’s trust.
“But then again, it depends if they work with other groups, they might be able to come up with something and make an impact. But if they choose to do it independently, I guess they can start making their foothold here but to go for election … it is may be too early to do so,” he said.
Like other states, there is only one branch set up by Parti KITA at the state-level.
Thanking the Parti KITA chief, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and also the Central Executive Committee for placing their trust on him, Pengiran Othman, who has been in politics for four decades said they have begun the membership drive throughout the state and to date have attracted some 200 members.
Pengiran Othman stressed that Parti KITA will be a new alternative to voters affecting national politics, particularly in Sabah.
“I can assure you we will do our very best in carrying out the mandate given to us. I have got a lot of friends out there. As leader of the party in Sabah, I can only say everyone is welcome to join us.
“We stand for democracy, for justice, for freedom, peace and progress. We believe in honesty, good governance, liberalisation and fair to all,” said Pengiran Othman.