Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) criticised Parti Warisan, Saturday, for mocking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while victims were still grappling with the aftermath of the deadly floods and landslides that claimed 13 lives.
PKR Chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said he welcomed Warisan’s involvement in helping those affected, but condemned what he described as “inappropriate political manoeuvres” during a time of mourning.
“What upset us was the political programmes staged while people were suffering. In one programme they welcomed saudara Remy Martin and in Kota Belud they openly mocked the Prime Minister and his wife,” Mustapha told reporters at his Sepanggar office, Saturday.
He stressed that politics should not be taken to the point where respect is lost. He also recalled Warisan’s dismal track record, citing RM315 million in lawsuits following the cancellation of nine water concession contracts and delays to the Pan Borneo Highway after the Project Delivery Partner model was scrapped.
“Compare Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s contributions to Sabah with that of others when they were in federal ministries. Please show some respect — this is adab for us in Sabah,” he said.
On the public scorn over Putrajaya’s RM200 million aid to Palestinians compared with just RM10 million for disaster relief in Sabah, Mustapha said such comparisons were misplaced as Gaza faced a humanitarian catastrophe on a different scale.
“This is not a normal issue. This is genocide. Children are being killed daily. The country must play its role, just as Singapore and Japan have done.
“But that does not mean Sabah’s needs are ignored. The Prime Minister has made it clear Sabah’s requirements will be addressed,” he said.
On the ground, PKR’s relief operations are ongoing. The party’s youth wing has already reached 1,030 victims across Penampang, Papar, Kinarut and Beaufort with a second wave of 200 volunteers now cleaning homes, mosques, suraus, churches and other places of worship.
Mustapha estimated each badly hit constituency would require at least RM3 million for urgent repairs, while relief centres remain open with Nadma and the Fire and Rescue Department still carrying out evacuations and road clearing.
Meanwhile, Warisan defended its actions saying it was among the first to respond whenever disasters struck in Sabah.
Warisan Sec-Gen Datuk Loretto Padua Jr said it was unfair to accuse Warisan of being insensitive for holding political programmes while flood relief was ongoing.
“Warisan was one of the earliest first responders last week. When floods hit Penampang and Papar, our President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was among the first leaders on the ground.
“He even instructed the Penampang division to prepare meals for flood victims,” he said.
“It is therefore not wrong for Warisan to continue its political programmes at the same time,” Loretto said.
He claimed Sabah PKR never developed the same level of readiness.
“If PKR Sabah divisions were trained as first responders, there would have been no need for PKR headquarters to issue a memo instructing branch leaders to help flood victims. In reality, many only went down to the ground after 48 hours,” he said.
Loretto also accused the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Plus State Government, which includes PKR, of failing to improve flood mitigation despite holding power at both federal and state levels.
“This clearly shows weaknesses in district management, even in areas controlled by PKR Sabah. There has been no change in flood mitigation efforts,” he said, adding as part of the state government, PKR Sabah and Mustapha bore responsibility for the recurring flood problems.
“The only reason PKR Sabah and Mustapha are suddenly showing concern about the floods — which have happened repeatedly since 2020 — is because the state election is approaching,” Loretto said.
