Yong: Problems remain unsolved

Thursday June 19, 2008

Yong: Problems remain unsolved


PETALING JAYA: The continued insensitive attitude of the Government towards serious issues in Sabah is the main reason Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) decided to move a motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister.

Its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party had to make a stand before the “window of opportunity” closed by August after which Sabah would be forgotten again.

“The nation’s attention will switch to MCA and Umno elections, people will be pre-occupied with the fasting month, Hari Raya, school exams and year-end events,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“Political fatigue in the national mainstream over 'Sabah-Sabah-Sabah' issues will set in.”

He said the momentum for Sabah to recover autonomy, obtain 20% oil royalties instead of the present five per cent and the return of Labuan would be lost.

“Unfair federal laws, excessive taxes and structural imbalances in the economy will remain entrenched. Sabah will remain the poorest state subservient to central leadership.

“The illegal immigrant problem will reach boiling point.

“With our political move today (yesterday), SAPP hereby initiates the political process to claim 20% in oil royalties, which is after all the natural resource of Sabah,” he added.

Yong said the extra billions could be invested in agriculture, education, capacity-building and achieve self-sufficiency in many areas.

“We can therefore insulate ourselves from external shocks or an economic tsunami,” he said.

He added that the people of Sabah were also suffering from high inflation because of recent “astronomical” and “unexpected” fuel price hikes, which was contrary to a Barisan election promise.

He said fuel prices have caused the business sector to stagnate and predicted that unemployment and social problems would rise.

“But the Government’s responses seem ad-hoc, flip-flop and lacking in foresight with a fire-fighting style.”

Among the problems that Yong said would remain unsolved were poverty eradication, rural development, racial politics, illegal immigrants, crime and drugs.