Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan’s legal advisor Chin Tek Ming lashed out at two Sabah DAP leaders for their eager praise of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s recent announcements, accusing them of misleading the Chinese community with recycled promises.
“Phoong Jin Zhe and Chan Foong Hin were both part of the Warisan government. They are fully aware these policies were already implemented back then, so why the need to flatter Hajiji’s announcement to such an extent, thereby lowering themselves?” Chin said in a statement.
Hajiji recently announced three major initiatives at a fund allocation reception dinner – increased allocations for non-Muslims next year, including funds for Chinese education and independent Chinese schools, UEC recognition with admissions for courses in UCSF and KTYS and the appointment of a Chinese Deputy Chief Minister.
Chin dismissed these announcements as nothing new, arguing that education and religious allocations have been standard practice for all Sabah governments since the PBS era, with natural increases following inflation trends.
On the UEC recognition, he said Warisan already implemented this policy, allowing certificate holders to serve in government positions.
“If it is already recognised, why announce it again? Are there implementation problems?” he asked.
Regarding the promised Chinese Deputy Chief Minister, Chin noted that experienced politician Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is already available for consideration if the current GRS-PH government was genuinely committed.
Chin said under Warisan, Datuk Seri Christina Liew served as Deputy Chief Minister alongside four Chinese cabinet ministers.
He spoke against what he termed political collusion between Hajiji, Phoong and Chan to “deceive” the Chinese community, urging voters to remain calm and vigilant, examine facts from multiple perspectives before making judgments.
Meanwhile, Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong opposed the State Government’s plan to corporatise the Sabah Water Department, claiming that it is admission of failure by the GRS-PH government to resolve Sabah’s long-standing water woes.
“Let’s be very clear, if the government needs to sell the Water Department to private companies just to solve its own problems, then it simply proves the GRS-PH government has been incompetent and unable to manage the water crisis throughout its years in power,” he said in a statement.
He warned that corporatising the department would inevitably lead to higher water tariffs.
“Once water management falls into private hands, Sabahans will be the ones paying the price. How much will water bills go up? Two times, three times, or more? This only adds further economic burden on the people.
“Higher tariffs do not necessarily mean water problems will be solved, especially if control is handed to cronies. In the end, the rakyat will suffer while a few benefit.” The Tanjung Aru assemblyman also questioned why the Government continued spending on mega-projects yet failed to resolve water shortages.
“Billions of taxpayers’ money have already been spent. If the projects failed to deliver solutions, then all that money has been wasted,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the fate of Water Department staff.