Mixed reactions from leaders to PM's 'goodies'

Kota Kinabalu: The announcements on several issues concerning Sabah on Saturday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were met with mixed reactions from leaders in the State.

Some said they were not up to the people's expectation, like the establishment of a high-powered Federal Cabinet committee to address the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah.

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup described the setting up of the committee as a mere "eyewash".

"Such a committee does not have the legal power and cannot compel witnesses to provide the necessary information. It also does not have the power to prosecute the witnesses if they tell lies and hence no matter how high-powered the committee is, it will not be able to find a solution to the problem," he said here, Sunday.

Kurup, who is also Federal Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the reality is that the illegal immigrant issue is getting bigger by the day and the Government has no other choice but to form a committee that has the legal power.

"The establishment of a Federal Cabinet committee as announced by the Prime Minister will only add to the people's perception that it is a mere eyewash," he said.

The Pensiangan MP said he found it hard to understand why it was difficult for the Government to decide to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

According to him, the RCI is the best option because it has the power needed to solve the perennial problem in Sabah.

Kurup also said the people welcomed the appointment of a Sabahan as the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah and another as the Federal Financial Officer.

"But, what we (actually) have been calling for is for locals to be appointed as the Director of the State Immigration Department and the National Registration Department," he said.

This was in view of the fact that only Sabahans would understand better the sentiments of the people and the situation in Sabah as the illegal immigrant issue was related to the issuance of birth certificates and MyKads through the back door, he said.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council member Dr Chong Eng Leong questioned the rationale in setting up the same Cabinet committee again.

"Is it not the same committee as the one announced in 2000 chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and again announced in 2006, also chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister?" he asked.

He also questioned why the Government wanted the committee to tackle specifically on the IMM13 holders or former Filipino refugees and not the holders of Project IC," he said, describing the announcement as another lip service.

Upko Youth Chief Donald Mojuntin believed that Sabah would be a major economic force in the country if plans to build the 300mw power plant by Petronas and Yayasan Sabah and the emphasis on downstream oil and gas industry with the proposed construction of a petrochemical plant in Kimanis materialised.

The announcement on the two projects by the Prime Minister brought much promise of a vibrant future for the people of Sabah, he said.

Mojuntin, who is also Assistant Resource and Information Technology Development Minister, said it would create substantial economic and industrial spin-offs by opening doors to business opportunities in the lucrative trade and providing employment opportunities.

He said the people of Sabah should also be thankful to the Prime Minister's announcement to cancel the 500km gas pipeline project from Kimanis to Bintulu, estimated to be worth about RM3 billion, as it would only benefit Sabah in the short term.

"Had the pipeline project gone ahead it would have been awarded to non-Sabahan companies from India and Peninsular Malaysia, as (according to Petronas) no Sabah-owned company is qualified to do the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) works," he said.

The Moyog assemblyman said more importantly, the construction of the pipeline would have had a significant negative impact on the economy of Sabah in the long term.

The Kimanis Oil and Gas Terminal would have been merely a transit point for any oil and gas extracted from Sabah waters, with the crude oil being exported directly and the gas being channelled to Bintulu.

As a consequent, there would have been no significant economic spin-off for Sabah from this activity in Kimanis, he said.

PBS Chief Information Officer Johnny Mositun said the abolishment of the State Federal Development Department (JPPS) was a direct answer to the popular request from the people.

However, he cautioned that the authorities concerned now tasked to implement Federal development projects should ensure that the delivery system is there.

On the formation of the Cabinet committee on illegal immigrants, he said it was in line with what PBS has been fighting for since its inception.

"Of course there are other quarters who see this as not wise because they want the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI). To me, whatever the Government decides may contain the best solution to the problem.

"If there is a solution, it must begin with the main problem - IMM13 documents. Some are saying that the RCI must be set up but to me the most sincere mechanism may be possible to give us the result that we want," he said.

Quarrelling over it, he said, would not lead to a solution.

Mositun said it was also heartening to note the Borneonisation of Federal organisations in Sabah.

"We are very happy with the approach which is a win-win situation for the people in Sabah and Sarawak. We are very touched as it is not easy to decide," he said, adding that the practice should not only apply to the Federal agencies but also if there is room all races should be given the opportunity to lead the departments.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Sabah
02/06/08