Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan urged Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali to stop attacking the opposition and instead focus on tackling the rising cost of living that continues to burden Sabahans.
Its Vice President Datuk Junz Wong said it was disappointing that as the state election approaches, Armizan- who is also a Papar MP-appears more focused on political mudslinging holding the cost-of-living portfolio since July 2023.
“While Armizan plays politics, ordinary Sabahans are struggling just to afford essential items. The minster saying ‘we are monitoring’ or ‘we have a roadmap’, but there are no visible result.
“How many more years does he need to monitor before Sabahans can finally afford basic necessities?,” Junz said in a statement.
He said Sabah’s prices issues are long-standing and stem from structural problems such as dependency on imported goods, poor infrastructure, scattered markets, and unequal trade flows.
However, he claimed Armizan’s ministry haD yet to produce meaningful improvements or transparent data showing progress.
“His aid and subsidy programmes are often announced with fanfare but remain selective and ineffective, offering little real relief. Sabahans are not politicising the issue- they are suffering daily,” Junz said.
He criticised the minister for allegedly dismissing public concern as political attacks and attributing high prices to global trends.
“That shows how disconnected he is from the people’s reality while enjoying the perks of his senior position in the federal government,” said Junz.
Junz said Armizan’s lack of progress reflects not ignorance but neglect, urging the minister to present concrete evidence of efforts taken to reduce prices in Sabah.
“If Armizan truly cares, he must show proof – data, results, and measureable impact. Sabahans deserve straight answer, not recycled promises,” he said.
He added that the people of Sabah have endured enough and need concrete action instead of rhetoric.
“Until Armizan can show results, he remains just another minister who talks much but delivers nothing,” Junz said.
This criticism comes amid renewed attention on a stalled RM300 million water treatment project in Papar.
On Sunday, the Kogopon Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant – initiated under the Warisan administration – was supposed to be completed in 2022 but has faced significant delays.
Armizan has defended the current government, saying the project was delayed due to a pending “Notice of Change” (NOC) related to cost adjustments.
He added that the project has since received renewed funding and work has resumed under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government.
