PUTATAN: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Deputy President Rafizi Ramli said the coalition between national and local parties is the best choice to bring prosperity to the people of Sabah in the coming State Election (PRN).
Rafizi, who is also Minister of Economy, said while respecting the views of those who want only local parties to contest, the people are aware that prosperity in Sabah is a shared responsibility between Federal and State.
Therefore, the best method is to create understanding and mutual respect between both governments.
“That is my view and PKR’s view. For those who have different views, I am sure they have their own basis, which is why my advice to PKR Sabah is that while we have our respective views, we cannot let the people be left in limbo,” he said, at the Keadilan Menang Convention Series for GE16 (Kemas16) and 25 Years of Pemerkasaan Organisasi Parti (POP25), Saturday.
Regarding the cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH, Rafizi said matters related to the composition of the coalition are subject to considerations and negotiations to be decided at the Unity Government Council level.
“What is certain at this point is that PKR Sabah is a good component member of the State Government.
Rafizi also said the need to establish a Trust Fund for unused Federal allocations should take into account the Government’s decision to hand over projects under RM50 million to Sabah.
He said even without a trust fund, issues related to Federal allocations have been partially resolved through the decision to hand over projects under RM50 million to Sabah.
He said previously, the controversy was that even though allocations had been approved, when Federal agencies were slow to implement, these allocations did not reach the Sabah Government.
“Actually, this matter has been partially resolved with the decision to hand over projects under RM50 million.
“However, we also want to ensure that during this transition and change, all projects run well and smoothly. I think we will do it step by step,” he said after the Keadilan Menang Convention Series.
Rafizi said the issue of allocation is actually discussed within the framework and is, indeed, a specific matter in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
