Yes! Prime Minister

Yes, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did have as hectic day-long working visit to Sabah yesterday (Monday - April 7). On arrival in Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur (a distance of 1,018 miles across the South China Sea) about 10am, he met with Sabah Umno leaders for about three hours.

Abdullah then met State Barisan Nasional component party members for another three hours.

The meeting with Sabah Umno who was led by its chief and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) headed by its President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by its President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, UPKO was headed by President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by its President Datuk V K Liew and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup led his Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

All the party's leaders had raised about Sabah's less representation in the Federal Government, illegal immigrants issues, the issuance of Malaysian identity cards to illegal immigrants, amongst others.

Abdullah said:"I met with them separately because I want to give the opportunity to the leaders to speak up on the issues that they feels strongly about. But despite the separate meetings, the issues raised by them were similar. I do recognise that some of it merits consideration."

The Prime Minister's visit to Sabah was the first after the March 8, general elections where the National Coalition Government (Barisan Nasional) suffered the worst elections since the Federation of Malaya gained Independence in 1946 (correction 1957)and the formation of Malaysia when Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya merged on Sept 16, 1963.

Barisan Nasional won 140 of the 222 Member of Parliament seats, less than eight seat for a two-third majority, the remaining seats were won by the Opposition. Abdullah's Government is now ruling the country with only a simple majority in Parliament.

Abdullah's parting promised to Sabah before he went back to Kuala Lumpur was `Sabah will be duly rewarded', a promise that the people of Sabah will be looking forward to be fulfill.


My Says:

Fulfilled before the next general elections is what the people of Sabah want the Prime Minister do now.