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KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has revealed plans that will be implemented to help the people of Sabah who have been economically affected by COVID-19, provided that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition reaches the power.
Muhyiddin spoke on Wednesday (September 16) at the launch of the GRS coalition manifesto ahead of the Sabah state elections on September 26.
The coalition is a state opposition alliance made up of Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and other state parties. GRS will confront two other political forces: the current Warisan + alliance and the indigenous Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).
Speaking at the launch, Muhyiddin said the coalition’s manifesto, titled “I Promise,” encompasses plans on how to help people if elected, relying on the close relationships between the prospective GRS state government and the federal PN government. .
“Sabah has many citizens, many of whom need help to progress themselves,” Muhyiddin said.
“The people of Sabah, like the people of other states, need help from the government, support from all levels, both at the federal and state levels. That is why today we have launched this promise. It is a total commitment from all parts of the coalition to raise the bar for the Sabahans, especially in this current tense and difficult situation with COVID-19 that has impacted the world and Malaysia, “he added.
The prime minister noted that Sabah has not been immune to the impact of COVID-19. “Many people from Sabah have become poor, some of them were not before. But now they have become very poor because of the difficulties they faced from COVID-19, ”he said.
“Therefore, the commitment that we are announcing today is not the usual commitment. It is (an) exceptional commitment, unprecedented in a difficult situation, never before faced by the people of Sabah, “he added.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. (Photo: Facebook / Muhyiddin Yassin)
He also asked voters to give GRS a chance for the state to be “run by a government that cares.”
“We are not like the previous government, we make promises but we don’t keep them. I would like to highlight how … Warisan has made so many promises to help the poor of Sabahans affected by COVID-19, but so far they have not received them, “said Muhyiddin.
“But when I make promises (from the federal government), they have been kept … Many Sabahans have asked me if federal aid can be continued for them. I replied that I will speak first with the Ministry of Finance. If necessary, and there are funds , perhaps we extend more than what has been given before, “he added.
The manifesto pledged to improve the livelihoods of locals through various aspects, including employment, infrastructure, and public transportation.
As the governing coalition at the federal level, the PN would be in the driving position when it comes to formulating aid and welfare policies.
READ: As Sabah heads to the polls on September 26, what is at stake for the main political blocs?
Leaders of two other major parties in the GRS coalition also spoke about the manifesto at the launch event on Wednesday.
Sabah Barisan Nasional President Bung Moktar Radin echoed Muhyiddin’s sentiments, emphasizing that the new coalition would give the people of Sabah a strong option to overthrow the incumbents of Warisan +.
“UMNO and BN Sabah have restructured their leadership, appearance and organization because we want to win the hearts of the people,” said Mr. Bung Moktar, who faces a five-pronged fight for his state seat in Lamag.
Additionally, Sabah’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) head Hajiji Noor added that the coalition will work to restore Sabah’s status as an equal partner with the Federation of Malaya, enshrined in the 1963 Malaysia Accord (MA63).
Playing MA63 at the event, Mr. Muhyiddin said the government is looking to announce a detailed plan on the implementation of the agreement, since “everything that has been written in black and white is the right of Sabah.”
He added that more details will be announced on Wednesday evening, during a Malaysia Day celebration event in Sibu, Sarawak.
