SEMPORNA: The safety and security of the country, especially in Sabah’s east coast, would be affected by the calls of a group for Sabah to secede from Malaysia.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Haji Apdal, who gave the warning yesterday, said that the secession calls could also affect the economy in the east coast.
“This action is dangerous and could threaten the safety and security in the east coast,” he said after opening the Umno Semporna delegates meeting yesterday.
He said it was not that the government wanted to prevent the freedom of the group calling for secession but needed to look at the implication as it was not easy to look after security not to mention the economy.
“I urge the people not to listen to the calls to leave Malaysia. Today we see in United Kingdom the people in Scotland have voted to remain with UK. Let this be taken as a lesson,” he added.
Shafie also hoped stern action would be taken against those who wanted to bring Sabah out of Malaysia because our history showed the people in the state voted through the Cobbold Commission to form Malaysia.
Shafie, who is the Rural and Regional Development Minister, in his speech urged all party members, including those at the grassroots level, to play their respective roles in assisting the leadership to solve the problems of the people.
He said party members should listen to the problems and needs of the people as well as help those in their respective areas to solve the problem.
“Leaders must go down to the ground to find out and listen to the problems faced by the people. Strive to assist the people to solve their problems so that the people will continue to provide unwavering support to the party.
“We should know that the people chose us because they believed that we will help them, therefore, we must implement our responsibilities as leaders as best as possible and assist the people,” he said.
Shafie added the failure of leaders to listen to people’s problems and helping people would diminish public support and this should be avoided so that Umno continued to be chosen by the people.
He urged all Umno members to review the needs of the people in their respective areas and inform the government so that action could be taken or assistance could be channeled to the people.
Shafie also urged all members in each branch to monitor the assistance given by the government to ensure that it reaches the people at all levels.