If Dr Jeffrey has his way....

Based on the victory of Sabah and Sarawak respectively delivering 24 and 30 Barisan Nasional MPs to the Federal Government, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the two States should be represented by a Deputy Prime Minister.

He said there should also be six full Ministers from each State. He said since Sabah and Sarawak contributed so much to the BN victory, it should be reflected with a bigger percentage ratio on the appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers from among the MPs in the two States.

Jeffrey said it was normal for a win and lost situation that the winners get their appropriate shares.

He cited that previously MCA had more than 30 MPs and were given four Ministers and 18Deputy Ministers but after the March 8, general elections MCA had its seat cut by half but still have four Ministers, although the number of Deputy Ministers reduced to 15.

Similarly, MIC and Umno in Peninsula also got more or less the same deal as it was before even though they performed badly in the general elections compared to their counterparts in Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Sabah Umno deputy secretary Datuk Haji Masidi Manjun is among the Sabah BN leaders who had openly said that what Sabah get in the Federal Cabinet did not reflect on the contribution of the State in winning big in the March 8, general elections.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be coming to Sabah soon to have a special meeting with State BN leaders. Among the agenda will be about Sabah's representation in the Federal Government.


My Say:

Jeffrey had all this while been advocating for an MP from Sabah or Sarawak be made Deputy Prime Minister. PKR had also, in its campaign in the March 8, general elections promised the people of Sabah and Sarawak of a Deputy Prime Minister.

But, alas, Jeffrey lost in his bid to wrest the Keningau MP seat from elder brother Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan. He also failed to unseat Justin Guka in Bingkor.

Jeffrey had also told the people of Sabah that the recent election could be his last.