Govt to take another look at PSS: Shafie
Published on: Monday, January 20, 2020
KOTA BELUD: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic) will discuss the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) issue with the Home Ministry, as it is said to be one of the factors contributing to the defeat of the Warisan candidate in the Kimanis by-election.
“A post mortem will be done... there are a number of factors that I find and admit that needs to be explored, not just the candidate factor, the funds factor and other factors.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We are aware (of the matter). We will do this in the near future on how we can improve in terms of our preparation,” he said.
Shafie, who is also Warisan President, was asked on the defeat of Warisan candidate Datuk Karim Bujang to Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin by a majority of 2,029.
“We already know that the people in Kimanis have made the decision and we accept the decision because it is a decision made by the residents and the voters in the area,” he said, after opening the Christmas and New Year celebrations at the Taginambur Open House, Sunday.
Shafie also thanked the over 10,000 voters in Kimanis who supported Warisan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Earlier in his speech, he said the defeat did not mean it was the end. “This is just a battle and not war,” he said.
“We must respect the people’s decision. But don’t worry, I have gone through a history of ups and downs in my life.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He assured that the government would continue to provide aid to the people in Kimanis.
“It doesn’t mean we lose, we will leave Kimanis,” he said.
“We lost in Tambunan (in GE14) but I went back to give RM1 million to build churches there. In fact, I’ve given other allocations for the area,” Shafie said.
Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin, 48, won the Kimanis parliamentary by-election on Saturday, garnering 12,706 votes against 10,677 votes received by 67-year-old Datuk Karim Bujang of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan).
The opposition comprising Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Star and SAPP, among others, viewed the byelection as a referendum on the PSS. They hoped to prove that the PSS which validates the stay of illegal immigrants when implemented effective June, this year, was opposed to not just by non-Muslim bumiputra natives but Muslim bumiputras as well.
The PSS, scheduled to be implemented in June, is intended to replace three different identification papers held by migrants in Sabah.
Later, he told reporters the people there need the government’s help and support. “We are still the government,” he said.
To a question on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying Pakatan Harapan will hold a post-mortem over the Kimanis loss, Shafie said Warisan will also conduct its own soon.
“There are several factors, including the candidate, funding matters and many others that I found. We acknowledge these must be looked into.
“We must see where we can improve on our preparations (for GE15),” said the Semporna MP.
Mahathir told reporters in Alor Setar today that PH will carry out a post-mortem to identify the factors for Warisan’s defeat and also what the people of Sabah thought about the government.
“Yes, we will find out why we lost. The defeat was worse than previously (in the 14th general election).
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
“So we want to know why. What caused the people in Sabah to be disappointed with our administration?”