Kota Kinabalu: Both the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP which won seats in the city in the recent general election lambasted Barisan Nasional Sepanggar Member of Parliament Datuk Jumat Idris for branding the Mayor an "agent of the opposition".Api-Api Assemblyman Christina Liew wondered whether "BN's success in the recent general election caused Idris to 'lose his head'."
"The Mayor is not to serve BN constituencies only. He has to serve the people in all the other eight constituencies within the purview of the city," she said.
Idris on Tuesday claimed that Datuk Abidin Madingkir was an ineffective Mayor and regretted that his term was renewed recently. He claimed about RM4 to RM5 million of the Prime Minister's Department and Federal agencies allocations meant for the Sepanggar constituency had yet to be utilised due to the lack of cooperation from the Mayor's office.
Idris also suggested Abidin be replaced and alleged that he was "an agent for the opposition".
Liew said Idris failed to appreciate that as Mayor, Abidin needs to cooperate with both BN and the opposition. Liew said the extension was proof that Madingkir had performed his job well.
She said an opportunity should be given to Abidin to explain the Federal allocations.
Liew recently visited the Mayor's office during which time she raised some of the problems and issues affecting the city.
DAP Luyang Assemblyman Hiew King Cheu said Jumat was wrong to frame the Mayor as the 'agent of the opposition' and asking him to resign when it was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who extended his term.
"Maybe Jumat needs to apologise to the Mayor over his statement."
However, Hiew said he couldn't agree more with Jumat when he said that "government officers must give their fullest cooperation or we should come after them."
"Jumat needs to be reminded who is actually 'steering' the work of the government officers like the Mayor or any other department heads. It is the BN politicians.
So why blame Abidin? The poor fellow is just executing the instructions and directives from BN top brass."
Hiew said without blame-game and finger pointing, BN should look into why the allocations were not used by the Mayor to benefit the people.
"It is evident that the allocation RM16.9 billion for Sabah in the 9th Malaysia Plan was also not fully utilized, and from the 3,690 approved projects only 2,056 projects worth RM6.81 billion was completed.
"What happened to the remaining unused RM10.09 billion and the 843 projects wanted by the people?
In the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), a sum of 20.3 billion had been allocated, and will this sum be used effectively and fully?
"If according to Jumat, then a whole lot of government officers have to resign."
Hiew also reminded Jumat there is much to do in the Sepanggar and to show the people in Inanam, Menggatal, Telipok, KKIP, Karambunai, and Sepanggar Bay area that he could deliver, adding that "Pakatan will also be watching him."
Meanwhile, the Mayor's office could not be reached for comments.
