NGO voices concern over widening rich-poor gap

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KOTA KINABALU: The president of Persatuan Bumiputera Bersatu Sabah (PBB Sabah), Datu Pengiran Abdul Rahman Datu Pengiran Zainal Abidin, has praised the BN manifesto which contained 16 important matters of development for the prosperity of Sabahans in particular and Malaysia in general.

However, according to him, all this would be useless until and unless the standard of living of the majority of the hardcore poor people is improved and uplifted in line with the material development going on around us, otherwise the situation will bring about more disappointment and dissatisfaction.

“Generally, a majority of Sabahans are still poor. The situation that prevails is that the rich gets richer and the poor become poorer,” he said.

“This state of disparity since we attained independence has continued to exist and yet no one and no party or government until now has taken steps to address the situation which is now going from bad to worse.

“For example, a poor family spends about RM800 a month for a family of 10 people, whereas well-to-do or well-of people or corporate figures spend RM800 in a day for one person.

“Therefore I hope the lot of the hardcore poor is improved immediately before it is too late. The wide gap between the rich and the poor must be addressed otherwise it could bring chaos to the country, and when that happens who will be at fault,” he said.

Datu Pengiran Abdul Rahman also suggested a foundation for the people to assist the hardcore poor for the time being, “similar to what we had in the past like the Amanah Yayasan Tun Mustapha which successfully gave cash to Sabahans irrespective of race or religion.”

“Most Sabahans are in dire straits and face constraints in making ends meet, and many, especially the jobless youths, have to find jobs or work elsewhere and they go everywhere to look for job opportunities forcing then to leave their families in Sabah as there are no jobs available in Sabah,” he claimed.

Datu Pengiran Abdul Rahman said, “what is the point of being highly developed if the people are still poor and have no better opportunities, in addition to the high cost of living here where the prices of goods and material are costly, compared to West Malaysia which is cheaper than East Malaysia.”

If this situation is prolonged and cannot be resolved once and for all by the leaders, parties and government, I am sure one day soon trouble may erupt at our doorstep by our own people, desperate to change the situation, against the government.

Thus, we hope and pray for a change to take place where a new trusted, clean and dedicated government will come out to create a successful, progressive and just community for us and our future generation,” Rahman said.

He urged the people of East and West Malaysia to choose the right and best party to lead them to prosperity, peace and harmony.

He also urged all the leaders and parties to “acknowledge that nobody can stop the wave of people’s power for change as we are from the people, of the people and for the people.” #myvote13 #ge13