KOTA KINABALU – In an ironic twist, a Warisan leader has thanked Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan for continuing with the AirAsia farm plan, which was started during the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan-Upko administration.
Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong thanked Kitingan for acknowledging Warisan’s vision for Sabah by supporting the AirAsia e-commerce platform, which was launched on Sunday.
Wong said Kitingan was once critical of the RM300 million loan from the Sabah Development Bank (SDB) to the budget carrier to start the project.
Wong was the agriculture and food industries minister at the time.
He said this was proof that Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s leadership during Warisan’s reign had the foresight to improve the state’s agriculture and fisheries sector.
“I have said since last year that Warisan under the leadership of our president Shafie has the vision and grand plan to industrialise Sabah.
“This includes the RM300 million loan by SDB to AirAsia. I have said since last year that the RM300 million was a loan, not a grant. It will be repaid in due time.
“On Sabah’s end, this will benefit local farmers and fishermen as we can leverage on AirAsia’s flights and e-commerce platforms. In fact, part of the loan was to build a logistics hub in Kota Kinabalu.”
According to Wong, the loan was approved between June and July of 2020 during the Warisan-led government.
He said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah party leaders, including Kitingan, had used the loan as a political attack against Warisan, to the extent of calling the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to probe into the loan.
Calling it a lie propagated by the ruling parties to attack Warisan, Wong said the Sabah Star leader now had changed his tune to support the programme.
“Shafie and myself welcomed the investigation because our consciences were clear. Look what happened today. Look who was right.
“In January 2021, MACC returned all the files as they found no evidence of wrongdoing.
“And just this week (May 2021), Kitingan launched the very same programme he once said was bringing jeopardy to Sabah.
“So now I thank Kitingan for making a big U-turn in acknowledging Warisan’s foresight and vision for Sabah. Finally, GRS agrees with Warisan's vision for Sabah,” he said. – The Vibes, May 5, 2021
