Party-hopping ‘unprincipled behaviour’ - Max Posted on November 8, 2013, Friday KOTA MARUDU: Barisan Nasional (BN) is a “doer of development” unlike the Opposition who can only shout and promise the moon but deliver nothing, according to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili. He said this fact was acknowledged by the Opposition elected representatives themselves who have left their parties citing those very reasons. “The Opposition can lure their voters with promises that they will give them the moon if they are elected. But, as admitted by the Opposition representatives who left their parties, there is not much the Opposition can do for the people and it is still under the Barisan Nasional banner that they can deliver the goods for the people,” he added. Dr Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu Member of Parliament and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president, said PBS welcomed new supporters of Barisan Nasional but as a principle, are always cautious of elected representatives who jump ship. “It is gratifying that many members of the Opposition and their elected representatives have realised that only Barisan Nasional can deliver for the people. We welcome and expect more Opposition leaders to leave their respective parties and align themselves as BN-friendly. “However, we must also be wary and know their background. They need to prove their sincerity and pass the test of being BN-friendly and have the true spirit of cooperation and support for the BN government with the interest of the people at heart,” he said. He said PBS objected to direct acceptance of Opposition representatives into a BN component party as “this is essentially party-hopping and unprincipled political behaviour” and this has always been the party’s stand. Dr Ongkili also reminded that this was the standard rule established by the Barisan Nasional supreme council, that a non-BN elected representative especially former BN party members who contested in the election as an Opposition, could not be accepted as BN party members without full consensus of the BN supreme council. “This is only fair as many Opposition parties have housed irresponsible, disloyal and unprincipled former BN members who crossed over during the last general election. Thus, their intentions and interest are in question. “They cannot gain entry into a BN party again without going through the established rule. They can’t simply walk in the back door and become BN members again,” he said. Dr Ongkili was speaking to the people during the launch of the RM500,000 Sungai Pangapuyan bailey bridge in Kampung Simpangan, which was built to fulfil his election promise. The bailey bridge built next to an existing suspension bridge is more resistant to flood and can be plied by vehicles and motorcycles. It benefits 10 villages and is a useful access for schoolchildren to get to the other side of the river. On another matter, Dr Ongkili also clarified the names of the six villages which were identified for issuance of communal grants in Kota Marudu by the state Land and Survey Department at the conclusion of its two-day meeting here yesterday. The villages are; Sonsogon Paliu, Sonsogon Magandai, Sonsogon Suyad, Binantugan Suyad, Kg Piso and Kg Lingkabungan 1. The communal grant is to ensure land ownership for the villagers who are in a land dispute with Begaraya. In May, two villages – Kg Bombong 1 and Kg Sungai Magandai – became the first recipients of the communal grants in Kota Marudu.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 09:26:51 +0000