No representation won't mean being left out: PMBS
Published on: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: Persatuan Melayu Brunei Sabah (PMBS) President Datuk Yusoff Mohd Kassim is confident the Malaysian Brunei community in Sabah will not be left out in terms of development despite not having any representative in the new State Cabinet line-up.Yusoff said the Sabah Brunei community needs to respect and accept the Government's decision and be prepared to work hard as well as move forward as loyal citizens and participate actively with the State's halatuju policy and Sabah Development Corridor. "I have every confidence that the community will not be left out as there will be roles and opportunities that they can be involved in or contribute or even benefit from," he said in a statement, Wednesday.ADVERTISEMENT Yusoff, who is also the State Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary, was speaking in the interest of the Malaysian Brunei community in Sabah numbering over 300,000 people.He was commenting on many views of the community forwarded to the association on Datuk Karim Bujang's decision to turn down the Assistant Minister post.This resulted in there being no more representative from the community in government as former State Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Rahim Ismail was not included in the line up. However, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman assured that Rahim would be given another role to play.According to Yusoff, there is no lack of professionals in various capacities in the public services and private sector, including in agriculture and fisheries and even in ICT, to name a few. ADVERTISEMENT "As such these are sources of strengths within the community that we can not only rely on but be proud of. They are involved in diverse fields or interests. All these could be harnessed to promote goodwill and to channel or lend whatever support and assistance needed by our community," he said.In other words, Yusoff said the Sabah Brunei community still have a choice and a voice in spite of the current situation and what is more important is that unity in the community must prevail, apart from focusing on creating a better future for the community.
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At the same time, he said the community being Muslim Bumiputeras by definition, must remember they have strong representation in the Government line-up with the Chief Minister himself being a Muslim Bumiputera. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Therefore, I have no doubt the community can be assured of continued or more assistance from the Government," he said. He added that the PMBS had successfully lifted the community's culture and arts through the annual Pesta Gambus, which assisted in the development of the State's tourism industry.