LABUAN: The post of Chairman of Labuan Corporation should be handed back to a Labuan-born when the term of Tan Sri Anifah Aman, who is from Sabah, expires next month.
Activist Hj Abdul Haji Jalali Hj Ghani said there are qualified and capable local leaders who should not be denied the opportunity as very few locals hold top positions on the island.
Jalil recalled that when Anifah was appointed to the position, it sparked outrage as Anifah was seen as an “outsider” who lost his deposit when his Parti Cinta Sabah was also wiped out in the previous Sabah election.
But some quarters urged that he be given a chance to prove what he could do for the island. “Next month he completes his two-year term but has he anything to show from all his overseas missions to bring in investors?” said Hj Abdul Haji Jalali.
He said being a Foreign Minister previously should not automatically qualify someone to be Chairman of LC which “needs different requirements to face different challenges”.
“It is so far also unclear if Anifah who is also Special Advisor to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, was the one who brought in multi-billion ringgit investors to Sabah like e-steel, Kibing and Nexilis.
“Or else, he could also have brought such investments to Labuan as well,” he said.
Due to lack of his presence on the island last year, Chairman of Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Datuk Wong Kii, told him to decide whether he was really interested in serving Labuan. Anifah was also appointed Senator representing Labuan.
Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh also said he heard complaints that Anifah was seldom in Labuan.
“Besides, with state elections looming in Sabah, Hajiji would be depending on Anifah and the Parti Cinta Sabah to help GRS win,” he said.
The previous Chairmen of LC were all Labuan residents and they include Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (2001-2009), Datuk Rozman Isli and Datuk Bashir Alias.
