Sabah assemblymen urged to support state Budget 2018

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah assemblymen including those in the opposition have been urged to support the state Budget 2018 which was drafted for the people irrespective of political affiliation.
Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal (BN-Lahad Datu) acknowledged that a state government under the opposition would not agree to or implement any development plan initiated by the federal government.
"But what is certain is that the federal government would not hesitate to assist the state government be it the opposition in its effort to develop Sabah," he said when debating the 2018 state budget at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly here today.
Asked by Dr Edwin Bosi (PAN-Kapayan) whether he understood the relationship between the federal government and Sabah state government in terms of fulfilling their responsibilities to the people, Mohammad Yusof said he not only understood but was aware that it should work both ways.
Datuk Samsudin Yahya (BN-Sekong) said if the opposition did not approve of the proposed state budget, then they should produce a better plan.

"Don't just slam the government like a dog barking at the moon. For example, what happened in Penang should be a lesson to all," he said.
He pointed to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's appeal to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for aid, following which the National Security Council was instructed to mount rescue operations using the services of the police and army.
"This is what a BN leader is, being disparaged, insulted, humiliated and cursed, yet ever ready to set aside political inclination and ideology to extend assistance.
"In fact, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak while visiting Penang announced 13 long-term projects to resolve the flood problem at a cost of RM1 billion," he said.
Meanwhile, Kuala Penyu assemblyman Datuk Limus Jury hoped the state and the federal government would expedite the construction of the proposed Menumbok-Labuan bridge that would potentially spur the local economy.

He also wanted to know whether any negotiation had been initiated with the federal government on the proposal, and what was the outcome of the preliminary study previously done by the Economic Planning Unit and Prime Minister's Department.
The assemblyman further wanted the state government to accord priority to the Kimanis-Kuala Penyu Road project in its application to the federal government and asked about the current status of the proposed 35-kilometre road which was not listed under 'new projects for 2018' in the 11th Malaysia Plan.
For the record, he said, the project was approved in principle as stated in a letter received from Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof in 2014. — Bernama