KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan has unveiled its eight main commitments towards the building of a more sustainable, prosperous and developed state, to be implemented if it remains part of the state government.
Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said these commitments comprised the most vital one, which is the fulfilment of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which includes the payment of Sabah’s 40% net revenue through discussions.
Like most manifestos by other political parties, the coalition wants to address water, electricity, infrastructure and fix roads as well as provide free higher education to eligible students if it manages to get the 40% payment.
“With this fund, we also hope to provide welfare aid, build affordable housing, a new industrial park, boost the tourism sector and introduce the Kota Kinabalu Light Rail system in the city,” he said.
Other than that, their commitments would centre around seven-points under the Harapan acronym, H for Hak Sabah (Sabah rights) by setting up a Sabah Sovereign Wealth Future Fund, A for accountability by introducing a Special Select Committee of the state assembly, and R for administrative reformation of the Cabinet, said Mustapha.
He said they aim to provide job opportunities with salaries that match academic qualifications as well as cost of living allowances for students under their young people aspiration objective, empowerment of high value economic development, women empowerment and lead Sabah towards development together with the Madani federal government.
He said these commitments were practical and adopted a ‘back to basics’ idea, but with bold and radical approaches.
“We are thankful and glad that after over five decades, we have a prime minister who is willing to fulfil the MA63 by ways of negotiations and talking things through,” said Mustapha.
He said that as the campaign trail entered its second week, support and response for Sabah Pakatan candidates have gained traction.
Earlier, Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe explained why these commitments introduced were important and significant, especially if mergers had to be done in the event of a hung assembly after Nov 29.
“These commitments are how we will negotiate with interested parties if we were to form the state government together,” he said.
He said instead of haggling for seats and positions, Sabah Pakatan want to focus on policies and who could deliver and work with them to honour these commitments.
