KUALA LUMPUR – Former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today expressed bewilderment over the “vengeful” attacks on him by “old friend” Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“I am astonished with Pekan (Najib). He seems to have an incessant vengeance (against me).
“He has been criticising me non-stop, not just on social media, but also in Parliament,” said Shafie in his Budget 2021 debate today.
The Parti Warisan Sabah president gave as an example the remarks made by the former prime minister on the Sabah election in September.
“He said I was willing to die for Covid-19 (because I called for an election). I have no such intention. All I did was return the right to choose to voters, rather than handing over power to the then opposition.”
The September 26 vote was triggered by former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s bid to topple the state administration, then led by Shafie.
Musa claimed he had majority support from among assemblymen.
On the Budget, Shafie mooted six suggestions for the Perikatan Nasional government to consider:
– Monthly cash handout to B40 and M40 groups;
– Conditional moratorium on mortgages of below RM500,000;
– Fine-tuning of financial aid for small and medium enterprises;
– Grant assistance for the self-employed;
– Renewing or absorbing contract workers with the Health Ministry; and,
– Postponing unnecessary expenditure.
“The high-speed rail project, along with other expenditure that does not make sense, as well as the increased allocation for certain ministries, must be slashed, and channelled to the health sector.
“The private sector, which is one of the largest groups of employers, should also be assisted as they employ many workers.” – The Vibes, November 16, 2020
