'Most inefficient', Bung chides Sabah's GRS govt

Summary

• Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin calls the GRS administration the “most inefficient government”.

• He also criticises GRS for its reliance on political donations.

• The Kinabatangan MP urges voters to pick BN in the next state polls.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration is the most ineffective government in the state’s history, said Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin.

Speaking at the Sabah Umno Gerak-17 event for the Bengkoka constituency yesterday, Bung (above) also criticised the state government’s reliance on political donations, describing it as a sign of inefficiency.

“Representatives claim they do not have enough to eat and rely on donations.

“If this is the kind of government the people have chosen, it is time to vote for change in the next election and not repeat past mistakes,” The Star reported him as saying.

Bung made the remark amid Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s attempt to explain the corruption scandal plaguing his administration, where the latter had suggested that the leaked videos could be pointing at political donations.

In a TikTok video, the GRS chairperson stressed that his assemblypersons have never solicited bribes.

“But it would be a lie to say that political parties and politicians do not accept political funding from donors.

“I conveyed this to the prime minister last week. Everyone understands that political funding is not wrong in this country or other countries.

“How can a political party function without financial contributions from those who can afford it? If we were to rely solely on the salaries of elected representatives, there wouldn’t even be enough to eat,” Hajiji was reported as saying.

‘Where are the jobs?’

Bung further criticised GRS for failing to deliver on its pledge of creating thousands of job opportunities, with Sabah remaining one of the poorest states in Malaysia.

“Where are the job opportunities they boast about? If there were indeed so many jobs, why is poverty still so rampant?” the Kinabatangan MP asked.

He also pointed out that there are unresolved basic infrastructure issues, including poor access to clean water and electricity across many districts, with no clear solutions provided.

“The roads in Sabah are like the surface of the moon. While the government focuses on Pan-Borneo projects, existing roads are left in severe disrepair, damaging the people’s vehicles from east to west Sabah,” he added.

Bung then pledged that Sabah BN would do a better job in governing the state and prioritise key infrastructure projects, including upgrading the Kudat airport if given the mandate to govern.

“The coalition positions itself as a more effective government, ready to address long-standing issues and improve the quality of life for Sabahans,” he said, urging voters to reject GRS in the next election.

The Sabah state election is to be held by September next year.

UMS student council cautions against New Year's Eve anti-graft rally

Sabah's future: Leadership, alliance and road to state polls

Young vs old: Sabah students fighting graft undeterred by pro-Hajiji rally

COMMENT | Sarawak envy: A look at Sabah's retro politics - Part 2

COMMENT | Musa's restoration: A look at Sabah's retro politics - Part 1