KOTA KINABALU: STAR Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has asked whether United Pasokmomogun Kadazadusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) is still relevant, has any ‘clout’ in the Barisan Nasional and capable of safeguarding the interests of Sabah.
Commenting on the statement by Upko Putatan member of parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh recently that Sabah should be getting more funding from the Federal Government to improve the electricity supply in the state and that the electricity tariffs were increased without consulting the elected representatives, Jeffrey reminded Upko and its representatives that they are in the government and not in the opposition, and should not be making statements lamenting the plight of Sabahans.
He said that as part of the BN government, UPKO should be performing their responsibilities and ensuring that Sabah gets the necessary allocations and funds for projects for the benefit of Sabahans.
He said poor Sabahans need everything from, among other things, clean treated water to electricity; from sealed roads to proper bridges; from well-equipped schools to hospitals, clinics and family and children care and welfare; from loss of job opportunities due to non-implementation of the Borneonization policy; from security to proper issuance of ICs and MyKads to citizens not illegal immigrants; from implementation of good government policies to abolishment of bad policies like the Cabotage policy; from protection of indigenous native rights to native customary rights to land from being given to non-natives and Malays classified as natives.
“The list is endless, such is the plight of Sabahans and the indigenous natives who were supposed to be protected under Article 41 of the Sabah Constitution,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Jeffrey said Sabah should also be given federal aid for flood victims in Sabah and funds for repairs of roads and slopes caused by the recent floods.
“What is Upko doing to get these aids for the flood victims and road and slope repairs in Sabah?” he asked.
Jeffrey claimed the endless problems in Sabah are partly caused and partly attributed to the ineffectiveness of parties like Upko in the Sabah and national BN.
He said instead of being pulled by their noses, the Sabah BN leaders should leverage on their positions and demand that Sabah gets its rightful allocations and funds for the proper development of the state.
“We are not asking for funds that are contributed by other states or to take away the development funds meant for other states,” he stressed.
In 2014, Sabah will be contributing RM26.6 billion from its oil and gas resources to Petronas and the federal coffers. In 2013, Sabahans contributed another RM772 million in taxes and revenues collected by Customs in Sabah.
“Sabah is one of the biggest contributors to the federal treasury, perhaps only second to Sarawak which contributes RM45 billion in oil revenue alone,” he said.
Jeffrey said Upko and their Sabah BN counterparts should rise and demand for the rightful allocations for the welfare and interests of Sabahans.
“They need to prove that they are still relevant and not powerless unless they just wish to continue to be political eunuchs and be used as political mules,” he said.