Sabah Saw Little Development When Governed By Local Parties Says Bung

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 The Sabah Umno chief says ‘real change’ only took place in 1994 when Barisan Nasional took over the administration.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said development took a back seat from 1963 to 1994 because of political infighting and power struggle among the local parties.PETALING JAYA: Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said the state saw “minimal development” when it was governed by local parties in the past
Bung said that between 1963 and 1994, development took a back seat due to the political infighting and power struggle among the local parties, The Borneo Post reported.
The frequent changes in government, he claimed, led to incoherent development plans and resulted in much of rural Sabah being underdeveloped.
Not only did rural Sabah put up with poor infrastructure, it also witnessed an increase in poverty levels, he said.
“These were the consequences during nearly four decades under local party rule,” he was quoted as saying, when responding to calls for unity among state leaders.
“In our pursuit of unity, we must also be fair to history, lest we repeat past mistakes under the guise of new ideals.”
Bung claimed real change only took place in 1994 when Barisan Nasional took over the administration.
He said BN’s stable rule meant that the state government was able to focus on development across Sabah and provide essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals, establish universities, and implement major projects, including the Pan Borneo Highway.
“This progress was not achieved through slogans, but through stability, experience and a strong administrative network between the state and federal governments,” he said, likely alluding to the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan.
Bung’s remarks on local parties come in the wake of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) saying that it was ready to contest in the upcoming state election on its own if Pakatan Harapan and BN’s decision to cooperate for the state polls is final.
GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said the state’s ruling coalition had consistently held that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government, without sidelining the important role national parties played in the larger political framework.
The Sabah chief minister said this was because local parties had a better understanding of the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. - FMT

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