SANDAKAN: A multi-purpose hall will be built at Rancangan Sungai Luboh in the very near future, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman announced yesterday.
Musa said the Barisan Nasional government strives to raise the people’s standard of living and wants them to be well-rounded individuals leading healthy lives.
As part of their corporate social responsibility, he said the cost of building the hall is to be jointly borned by the Sabah Land Development Board and Sawit Kinabalu.
“This is our New Year’s gift to the people. The BN government is attentive to the plight of the people. We not only build roads and other infrastructure but also provide them a place for meaningful recreational activities,” he said during a meet-the-people session at Sungai Luboh yesterday.
Musa reminded rural folks to keep a watchful eye on their kids and make sure they stay clear of drugs because it is the nation’s number one enemy.
“Take advantage of the facilities the BN government provides for healthy activities that promote physical and mental development.”
Musa said one of the objectives of the education hub is to fulfil this purpose, the other being to provide affordable higher education for the people.
“Soon our children will no longer have to go overseas or even out of the state to seek higher education. Education is high on our list of priorities because the youths of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and they must be equipped with the right knowledge to lead wisely.”
He therefore called for the support of all, including government departments to ensure the successful realization of the education hub.
Musa also engaged in a dialogue with kampung folks and address issues concerning land, roads, electricity and water supply in their area.
Earlier, Musa who is also the Sabah Umno chief, officiated at the opening of a sports carnival organized by the Libaran Umno Youth at Sandakan Sports Complex.
The Chief Minister pointed out Juara Rakyat (People’s Champion) programme, although an Umno initiative, was designed to serve the interests of all races in line with the 1Malaysia concept.
He said the programme covered areas such as education, welfare, agriculture, employment and health, targeted for everyone regardless of race.
“It shows that Umno struggles to improve the lot of all communities in this country,” he said.
“Through this approach, the Umno divisional machinery can operate more actively and effectively in line with the party’s aim of fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people.
“Serving the people is Umno’s contribution to ensuring their well-being in all aspects, whether they live in the rural or urban areas, since the party’s establishment (in 1946).”
Musa said Umno and the Barisan Nasional were not wasting time on coffeeshop politics, unlike Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
“Until now, they are still quarrelling among themselves and indulging in too much politicking that they don’t have time to think about the people’s lot or development plans.”
He said they were different from Umno and BN which were a responsible government with proper plans, allocations and the mechanisms for effective implementation of development programmes.
Among those present were Libaran member of parliament Datuk Juslie Ajirol, assemblymen Datuk Zakaria Edris (Gum-Gum) and Datuk Samsudin Yahya (Sekong), Senator Datuk Armani Haji Mahiruddin, Sabah Umno Youth vice chief Haji Awang Kadin Tang and Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk James Wong.