KOTA KINABALU: The election petition victory of PKR Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin allowing him to retain the status quo of his Klias state seat is good omen for the party in Sabah, said his deputy, Christina Liew.
The Election Court on Friday dismissed with costs the election petition filed by defeated Umno-BN candidate, Isnin Aliasnih, who sought to nullify the result of the Klias state seat won by Lajim
Liew, who was among several PKR leaders present to support Lajim outside the court during the judgment, said PKR would move on with many programmes and activities to further strengthen the party in Sabah.
“We are happy with the judgment, and we finally can continue with our plans for the party under the leadership of Lajim in Sabah. We need to continue with our programmes because we know the problems that the rakyat are facing now.
“After the general election in May, the rakyat had to face with the hike in petrol price, followed by the withdrawal of the sugar subsidy by the government. After that, we will also have to face the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the increase of electricity tariff.
“Apart from all the bad news, we also never heard of any development on the cabotage policy. I don’t think 2014 is a good year for the rakyat financially,” she said in a press conference.
Liew, who is the Api-Api assemblywoman, also urged the government to look at various problems among the Sabahans, and not only telling them to ‘tighten their belt’ without implementing whatever they have said during the election campaign.
She added that the announcement of more houses to be built under the Sabah Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) is another unfulfilled dream that the government has promised.
“Our young married couples cannot afford to buy a house because there is no policy to help them to own a property. Applying for PPRT houses is also another hassle for our young couples because they have to compete with each other. Too many people, too little houses,” she added.