TUARAN – Pakatan Harapan (PH) has vowed to end the plight of the nation’s poorest districts in several states if it forms the federal government after the general election (GE15), said its chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
During the Sabah leg of the PH Jelajah Mega Harapan tour, here, yesterday evening, Anwar said the state has the most impoverished districts in the country.
“I read that out of the 20 poorest districts in Malaysia, most of them are in Sabah.
“If I was the chief minister of Sabah, I would be very ashamed. Sabah leaders, whether they are from Umno, Bersatu, or Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, my state has the poorest districts in Malaysia.
“God-willing when we win the election by November 20… we will resolve this (poverty) as soon as we can,” Anwar said.
The eight impoverished districts in Sabah consist of Tongod, Pitas, Telupid, Beluran, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, and Nabawan.
Small Sabah parties cannot deliver
On the participation of smaller and state-based parties in GE15, Anwar said these outfits can only split votes in Sabah, but they cannot deliver on their promises if they win contested seats in the polls.
“Corrupt Sabah leaders, poverty, and dilapidated schools are a national problem, not a state problem.
“This election is about the country, not for the state, it’s not a state election but a federal election.
“Why would you vote for the small parties? What can they do? They can split the votes, but they cannot deliver,” Anwar said, adding that the parties should not play up divisive regional sentiments to gain votes.
He also stressed that voter support for these small parties will result in the victory of PH’s rivals.
Anwar said the small parties cannot form the federal government unless they cooperate with coalitions such as Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional, or PH.
“So if you choose PH, you must reject the other two coalitions,” he told those present at the event.
Malaysia Day, Malaysia Agreement 1963
Anwar said Sabah leaders should not take credit in pushing for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as PH – via DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang – was the first to bring the matter to the national stage.
He also said that it was PH that recognised September 16 as Malaysia Day before it was declared a national holiday.
“We (PH) are the ones from Sabah and Sarawak who strongly demanded September 16 to be a national holiday until former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak declared it as a public holiday,” Anwar said, adding that the then opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, had made the demand in Kuching, Sarawak in 2009. – The Vibes, November 1, 2022
