KENINGAU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Datuk Jake Nointin urged the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to explain what had become of the BN power-sharing guideline which was drafted by the committee headed by State Legislative Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
“It has been a few years since the guideline was submitted by the committee to the BN leadership. But has it been adopted by the state administration and implemented? And if not, why so?” Jake asked in a statement yesterday.
On Monday, PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili had said that the concept of power sharing in the state BN should be practised in reality instead of just being a rhetoric or concept.
Dr Maximus, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, said PBS wanted the state BN leadership to improve the formula for power sharing among the BN component parties for the sake of the coalition’s strength in governing Sabah.
“The guideline for power sharing has already been formulated by a committee headed by Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak a few years ago but it has yet to be implemented,”he said during a Christmas and New Year gathering in Kota Marudu on Sunday night.
Dr Maximus pointed out that many supporters and members of PBS were dissatisfied as they felt the party was being sidelined in decision making and division of power.
In response to Dr Maximus’ statement, Salleh said that power sharing was alive and well among the BN component parties and pointed out that the appointment of ministers, assistant ministers, permanent secretaries, directors of state departments and agencies as well as district officers and community leaders was testimony to it.
Salleh, who is also Sabah Umno liaison deputy chief, was quoted as saying that such appointments were proof that no single party was sidelined in decision making or other BN component parties were not playing an active role in governing the state.
Meanwhile, Jake suggested that to correct the public perception that certain quarters were monopolizing the posts, the appointments should be made public.
“Please publish all appointments by categories of Muslim Bumiputera, non-Muslim Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera as permanent secretaries, directors of departments and agencies, chairmen and board members of GLCs, district officers and district chiefs.
“Only then can it be seen whether power-sharing is being practised in the state administration,”he said.
Jake added that PBS wanted a reinvention of BN power sharing practice to take place.
“We want Sabah BN to be strong to enable us to continue to govern the state.
“Therefore, efficient management and transparency in decision making is crucial. The power sharing arrangement must be genuine, and seen and felt by the people as being so,” he stressed.