Salleh Says It’s Time To Get Down To Business

(Malaysian Digest) – Since the general election held on 9 May, not a day has gone by without public statement being made by elected officials in government that are political in nature, aimed at discrediting the former Barisan Nasional government.

From allegations of uncovering a series of financial irregularities to alarming news about the nation’s ballooning RM1 trillion debt, all these statements are aimed at shaping public opinion against the forner government but does not address pressing issues at hand.

Deputy Sabah UMNO Liaison chief Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has called for the new governemnt to tone down the politicking and get back to running the country.

“The general election is over and the new government has been formed and we do not expect the next general election until at least another five years or thereabouts from now.

“So maybe it is time to tone down the political campaigning and get down to running the country. There is much that needs to be done until we face the voters again in GE15,” he observed in a recent posting on his blog, sskeruak.blogspot.com.

Chief among his concerns is the new federal government’s uncertain stance over issues effecting Sabah and Sarawak.

In recent weeks, there have been rumours of parts of the Pan Borneo Highway being cancelled while news of Petronas filing a lawsuit to dispute Sarawak’s claim over oil revenues earlier this week also made headlines.

Salleh who is also Umno’s treasurer had been appointed the de facto Sabah UMNO Liason chief after former Sabah Chief Minister, Tan Sri Musa Aman went missing.

Chief among his concerns is his own state’s welfare under the new Pakatan Harapan government.

“Utmost to most of us in Sabah and Sarawak are the issues that have been raised these last few years and the promises made in the run-up to GE14. Sabah and Sarawak have different needs compared to those in Peninsular Malaysia and what is dear to the hearts of Sabahans and Sarawakians is the Malaysian Agreement,” he notes, concluding with a call to the new federal government to state its stance clearly over its manifesto pledges for East Malaysia.

“The Federal Government needs to make it clear what its plans for Sabah and Sarawak are taking into consideration the two different state governments that exist here.

“Most of the promises made are based on if Pakatan Harapan forms the Federal Government, which now has happened, and not whether Pakatan Harapan forms the State Governments in Sabah and Sarawak.”