Keningau: The call for Sabah autonomy is a non-issue because its provision is still intact under the 20-Points of the Malaysia Agreement, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak."Sabah's autonomy was already assured in the 20 Points.
"However, Sabah's oneness in the Federation of Malaysia is also a point that must be considered," he said, adding that should Sabah need help, the Federal Government would mobilise all its might to assist.
"Our relationship between the Federal and State governments is so beautiful (but) we need time because Sabah is very big. There is one district, Kinabatangan which is even bigger than Pahang and I come from Pahang," he said at the gathering with the people at the Sports Complex, Wednesday.
He assured that more would come for Sabah in the future. Based on his two-day visit to Sabah, he was confident that state would remain BN's "fixed deposit."
"Sabah is still the BN's fixed deposit. The 13-member coalition receives overwhelming support, including from people in interior areas," he said in Tenom, earlier.
Najib said the BN government was strong and had the capacity to propel Sabah to greater heights and to balance the development between the state and Peninsular Malaysia.
Refuting claims that the Sabah fixed deposit was weakening, Najib said the opposition would not be able to capture Sabah. He said the BN had unveiled its manifesto themed "Promises Fulfilled Giving Hope" for the next five years.
He said the opposition pact had spoilt the true meaning of manifesto to merely a blank piece of paper.
"In four years, the people can see and feel everything around them, the BN has brought changes in the economic management even by going against the norm.
"When the International Monetary Fund chief executive Christine Lagarde met me last year, she said Malaysia is the only country in the world that the IMF had to revise upwards its growth rate from the initially expected rate," he said.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the healthy developments in Malaysia's economic landscape were among the government's testimony in managing and expanding the economic pie and returning the "spinoffs" to the people.
The Opposition's economic projections would render Malaysia bankrupt, he said.
Najib also promised to bring more prosperity to Sabah and expressed support to the communal grant concept, an initiative by the BN state government, which guarantees a bright future fot the rural folk in the state.
Najib reminded the interior folk to make a wise decision by supporting BN candidates in the May 5 general election for a bright future to them and to the state.
He thanked the leaders of Sabah for praising him as hard working.
"I work hard because I hold on to my father's words of wisdom who told me that your duty to the country is to fulfil the trusts of the people with everything you have," he said, adding the words of wisdom were also relevant to all BN leaders.
Speaking to reporters in Keningau, Najib said the BN government placed Sabah's security and sovereignty as the top consideration as they are uppermost in the minds of Sabahans at the moment.
The PM said a clear message should be conveyed to Sabahans on the federal government's commitment and concern to ensure that the state's security and sovereignty were always guaranteed.
"This message is important because sovereignty and security are the highest considerations in the minds of Sabahans.
"As BN Chairman let me give an assurance that under the BN, we will do all the things we are capable of to protect Sabah's peace and sovereignty," he said.
Realising that the Sulu terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu and Semporna has made a significant impact in the hearts of Sabahans, Najib reiterated that the people that the state's security situation would be dealt with firmly and resolutely.
"The BN's commitment can be witnessed through the decisions and actions taken," he said.
Najib said the issue was not only stressed by him, but also other BN leaders to instil confidence in the people that the BN government was able to address the issue and restore peace, especially in Sabah's east coast.
"Every time when we touch on Sabah's security and sovereignty, we can see spontaneous response from the crowd and thunderous applause given... so the issue is important and close to the people's hearts," he said.
He was asked to comment that BN was capitalising on the Lahad Datu incident to gain support from the people in the coming General Election. Later, Najib together with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman flew to Ranau for the last programme in his two-day whirlwind visit to Sabah.
