KOTA KINABALU: Staff of People Development Leader Units or (Pemimpin Kemajuan Rakyat – PKR) are important to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government as they serve as a bridge between the leaders and people at the grassroots level, said Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.
Musa said, leaders were often busy with their daily workload in the office or attending meetings in Kuala Lumpur, and thus the unit was entrusted by the government to look after the people.
Musa said the unit also serve as the eyes and ears of the government to learn about the problems faced by the people at the grassroots level and convey these issues to the leaders or to him, as the unit come under the Chief Minister’s Department.
In addition, he said, unit plays an important role to explain and disseminate information about Federal and State Government policies and programmes to the people, and how these policies would benefit the people.
Musa said this at the launching ceremony for the re-branding of the People Development Leaders Unit (UPKR), also known as Unit Pemimpin Kemajuan Rakyat, to unit or Unit Pemimpin Pembangunan Masyarakat at Pacific Sutera Hotel here on Wednesday.
“Many policies have been introduced and implemented during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s administration, such as the Government Transformation Plan (GTP), Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) and so on.
“It is of utmost importance for the unit to explain to the people so that they understand that the BN Government led by Najib at the federal level and me at the state level, have implemented policies that serve the people’s interest.”
Musa said the unit also serves to fend off undesirable elements, including incitement, empty promises and lies from the opposition parties that are aimed to confuse the people.
But to do so, Musa said, unit staff must be aware and understand the government’s programmes and policies, including the short, medium and long term plans outlined by the government for the present and future generations.
Musa said it is undeniable that there were places that needed roads, bridges, clinics and other infrastructure in the State, but the point is that the government is working on improving and bringing infrastructure to places that required these facilities all the while.
“BN has spend billions of ringgit (on infrastructure and facilities),” he pointed out.
In addition, Musa said, the Budget 2015 recently tabled by the Prime Minister was inclusive of all parties, whereby assistance were given to farmers, fishermen, retirees, youth, women and special needs people (OKU).
The budget also included huge allocation to boost security in Sabah and the Pan Borneo Highway project, he said.
He pointed out that RM250 million was needed to repair and rebuild infrastructures damaged by floods that hit the Penampang district last week.
“Landslides, broken bridges, damaged roads and fallen trees … all these damaged need huge allocations (to repair).”
Musa said he meets and is in touch with Najib regularly, including when additional federal allocation was needed, and the latter responded by approving the allocations, which goes to show that Najib is aware of the needs in Sabah.
Hence, Musa said, the job of the unit is to explain to the people in Sabah that they are not sidelined by the government, contrary to the opposition’s claims.
He said Sabah is seeing an annual return of over RM1 billion from its 10 percent equity in Bintulu LNG operation, and is requesting a 25 per cent equity in Petronas Sabah Urea Ammonia (Samur).
Musa added that the State was also set to become a key player in the oil and gas offshore and onshore exploration activities.
He said a change of government would not guarantee stability and prosperity, as seen in countries like Libya, Iraq, Egypt and Algeria.
Also present at the event were State Secretary, Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Minister of Rural Development, Datuk Radin Malleh, Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Haji Tawfiq bin Datuk Haji Abu Bakar Titingan, Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Hajah Jainab Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmad Ayid, Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, Datuk Siringan Gubat, Sabah unit director Datuk Japlin Akim and others.