Shafie (right) and Mat Sabu speaking to the media.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal urges the Ministry of Defence to recruit more Sabahans into the armed forces.
Having Sabahans in the armed forces will give them a sense of responsibility in ensuring that the state and its people are safe, he said.
Recruiting Sabahans can also reduce the federal government’s expenditure as it does not have to send armed forces personnel from Peninsular Malaysia to here, Shafie stressed.
Speaking at a joint press conference after a courtesy call by Defence Minister Mohammad Sabu yesterday, Shafie said: “If the recruitment is carried out here it can reduce expenditure and also give Sabahans a sense of responsibility to play a more direct role in keeping the state safe. They know the state and its borders better.”
He said the meeting with the Minister of Defence was important in strengthening working cooperation between the state and federal governments.
Meanwhile when asked to comment on Sabah Star president Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan’s statement which called for Sabah to secede from Malaysia, Shafie pointed out that this was nothing new from the politician.
“This is nothing new coming from Dr Jeff. He wants to do it but he is working with Umno. Now he supports Umno – what has Umno given? At least we (Pakatan Harapan and the Warisan-led state government) understand and know what is enshrined in the party’s manifesto.
“We should be looking at what our contribution towards ensuring what in MA63 can be fulfilled instead of entertaining Dr Jeff’s statements. What has he contributed towards the realization of MA63?
“We know this cannot be done overnight. It takes time. We have set up the state Education and Innovation ministry, but this does not mean that we will start an education system that is different from the national one. We are here to complement the national education system,” he stressed.
This, he said is included in MA63 as well as devolution of power and empowering the state, which the Warisan-led state government has frequent discussions with the Pakatan Harapan leadership
Shafie said what was important for us was the method and approach on how to fulfill what was enshrined in MA63.
“I am confident that a majority of Pakatan Harapan leaders, especially Tun Mahathir are aware of this. I think given time we can execute although not 100 per cent,” said Shafie.