Pairin speaking at the BN leaders with the People ceremony, attended by Najib and Musa, at Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang last night.
PENAMPANG: Making the Kaiduan Dam happen is for the sake of 1 million residents in Sabah, said PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Even though the Huguan Siou is faced with strong criticism from the KadazanDusun people, Pairin said he will still see through with the 14th general election (GE14) promise.
He explained this is to ensure that the right infrastructure will be put in place before the worldwide water shortage that is expected to hit 1.6 billion people by 2025.
“That is why the Barisan Nasional (BN) government have given focus to our water services and we, of course, have checked certain places to ensure the water supply volume. After making a feasibility study, (it is) in the Penampang side,” he said at the BN Leaders with the People ceremony, attended by BN president Datuk Najib Razak and BN Sabah Liaison chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman at Hongkod Koisaan here last night.
“I have been said by an ex-assemblyman as neglecting my responsibility where the KadazanDusun in Penampang will face many problems as a result of the proposal to build the Kaiduan Dam.
“Despite certain resistances, the residents that will be supplied with water from Kaiduan Dam is not only in Penampang but also for Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, Papar and the vicinity areas. All these places with KadazanDusun descendants.
“So if we raise up the issue that we have neglected the interest of the KadazanDusun people in Penampang, actually, the focus and attention that have been given were just the complaints for 300 families. Imagine the rest put at stake, more than one million human beings,” he added.
He said the BN leadership will stay focused on reducing the water shortage issue.
Pairin reminded that the BN government had also approved the Pan Borneo Highway for benefit of the people, Sabah and its economic development.
“The other parties try to influence us with mere words. BN had already brought the good to us all this time until we have progressed.
“We must give the BN candidates the full power for them to win so that our voices will be lifted through them and delivered to YAB Prime Minister and Chief Minister,” he urged.