Masidi blames KL for project lag - The Borneo Post Online Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah |
| Masidi blames KL for project lag - The Borneo Post Online Posted: 02 Apr 2014 04:50 PM PDT by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on April 3, 2014, Thursday KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun attributed the failure to fully implement federal government programmes in Sabah to Putrajaya. He said the authority to decide lies with Putrajaya and power is not given to the people of Sabah to implement programmes. Even trivial matters with regard to the tender of supplies for food is decided by Putrajaya, said Masidi when launching a seminar on Malaysia Education Development Plan (PPPM) yesterday. As a result, a lot of time is wasted, he said. "In this day and age, such incidents should not happen anymore, particularly when we want everything to be done swiftly," he said. "Schools (projects) in Sabah are neglected due to issues like cement problem…if the power to decide is given to the director (State Education director), we have ample and able contractors to carry out these projects, but we still have to get the authorisation from Putrajaya," he said. "I am voicing these issues not because I am against it, but because I am fully supportive of it and want to see all the programmes to be realised fully…I have outlined each of the problems faced in the education sector (in Sabah)…I have also gone through the process of implementing the education (programmes) in Sabah and it is fraught with problems and challenges due to the authority. "How wonderful it would be if the authority to decide is given to us (Sabah) so that we can implement the Education Ministry's programmes successfully," he said. He also said that the people of Sabah were not ungrateful to the Federal Government. "It is not that. We don't want to see the billions of Ringgit spent in Sabah to go into waste because the end result remains unsatisfactory," he said. He then outlined four issues that need to be considered for the successful implementation of Federal Government programmes in Sabah. The first issue he raised was on the provision of the power to decide to State directors and /or any federal government agencies based in Sabah. He explained that contracts were often given to companies that were not based in Sabah, not just in the area of education but also others. He stressed that there were many capable contractors in Sabah and that they possess technical knowhow/expertise to handle Federal Government projects. "The Central Government has to understand the aspiration of the people of Sabah. Please don't appoint Peninsular Malaysia-based contractors for contracts involving safety works, for instance, because we have former police personnel who could do such work. "We are not angry that others get the project but let it (the granting of projects) be balanced. Unfortunately, everything goes to peninsula. This is also one of the factors contributing to the challenges in the implementation of projects in Sabah," he said. Secondly, locals should be given the opportunity to implement projects related to the PPPM in Sabah, he said. "Let the contract be given to the locals and give the district education officer full authority to monitor and be responsible for the implementation of these projects," he said. He also called for the decentralisation of decision-making, citing that Sabah was far from Peninsular Malaysia and that there were many federal government officers in Sabah who were capable as decision makers. He also said that Sabahans must be considered for federal government posts in Sabah, and that minor posts such as Assistant Lab Technicians in the State must be given to Sabahans. "If these posts are given to those in Peninsular Malaysia, then the people of Sabah will die," he said. "These matters may seem trivial but they are important to raise our spirit to continue with the success of the national plan," he said. Lastly, Masidi called for the setting up of a secretariat in Sabah to foresee the successful implementation of the PPPM in Sabah. "We need to ensure the plan continues to be relevant till 2025." During an interview with press members later, Masidi also mentioned the challenges faced by Peninsular Malaysian teachers who were based in Sabah. "They are faced with problems finding places to stay and getting used to the place…but with Sabahans teaching in Sabah, such an issue will not occur. We need to come to a stage where such issues are no longer regarded as being regionalistic…it is natural for all of us to love the district and State where we came from." Also present was State Education Director, Datuk Jame Alip.   |
| Mount commercial flights using <b>Sabah</b> Air — MCA – BorneoPost <b>...</b> Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:42 AM PST KOTA KINABALU: MCA Penampang division deputy chief Francis Goh has urged the State Government to consider providing commercial flight services using Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd (Sabah Air). Goh said he was disappointed with AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes' remark, that the low cost carrier would take its business elsewhere if the company was forced to move its operations from Terminal Two of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to Terminal One. Fernandes has said that moving to Terminal One would be uneconomical and unfeasible due to higher operation costs and overcrowding at the main terminal. Consumers will also pay more airport tax, and AirAsia will not make the airport here its hub if the airline is no longer allowed to operate at Terminal Two, he said. Goh said the State Government should not be threatened by AirAsia, but consider acquiring aircraft for Sabah Air to operate commercial flights in view of the importance of the tourism industry to Sabah. He said Malindo Air, AirAsia's competitor in the low cost carrier industry, offered similar air fare that was inclusive of luggage fee. "Although the fares between both airlines are similar, Malindo Air is considered cheaper because the price includes luggage and light refreshments, he contended. "Passengers on Malindo Air can also enjoy movies during their journey while the seats are more comfortable," Goh said, adding that Malindo Air zlso provides aerobridge to avoid passengers from being exposed to the sun and rain during boarding time. He said Malindo Air was established only a few years ago, while AirAsia has been in operation for over 10 years. "Why is AirAsia unable to provide these services?" he queried. If consumers were given a choice between the two airlines, Goh said he would choose Malindo Air. He added that the RM65 airport tax at Terminal One was reasonable considering the hundreds of millions spent to build the terminal. |
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