KOTA BELUD – Just as the political feuding between the ruling and opposition parties in Sabah appears to have simmered after the state polls last year, a war of words has now erupted between the two sides in various media over the use of local community halls.
This comes in the wake of a letter purportedly issued by Demis Rumanti, the newly appointed leader of the grassroots Community Development Leaders Unit (CDLU) at Kadamaian, a suburban area in Kota Belud, restricting public community halls there from being used by opposition leaders.
Kadamaian state assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick, a leader in opposition outfit Upko, openly criticised the letter today.
He called on the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government to build more amenities instead of banning opposition leaders from using the hall in Kadamaian, some 80km from here.
“During the era of Warisan Plus (former state government), the use of public halls by the opposition was also discussed.
“Myself and all the ministers at the time agreed to allow the use of community halls and community centres by the opposition.
“All they needed to do was just apply for the use of the facilities and pay the charges,” said Ewon, recalling that the directive was issued in June 2018.
The CDLU letter signed by Rumanti was sighted by The Vibes.
He claimed that the prohibition is in accordance with a circular issued by the state Rural Development Ministry’s permanent secretary in September 2016, which restricts the use of public amenities by members of the opposition.
Benedick also noted that new Kota Belud district chief Roslan Duraman had warned Kota Belud MP Issnaraissah Munirah Majilis of Warisan over her use of a newly built multi-purpose hall in Kg Pinolubuh.
Overall, there are 22 open halls and multi-purpose halls in Kadamaian. – The Vibes, March 10, 2021
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