Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), the state's oldest at 24 years, is in a festive mood again this year, notes party president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, "but it is also a time to call a spade, a spade".

However, the bouquets came first, the brickbats very much later, in true Dusun (and Malay) tradition.

joseph pairin kitingan 010706 Speaking at the party's 24 th Congress yesterday, Pairin began by paying gushing tribute to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia Administration.

This was best expressed in the federal government's acknowledgement, after nearly 50 years, that Sept 16 would henceforth be honoured as Malaysia Day, he noted.

At the same time, he agreed with Najib's observation that Sabah, along with neighbouring Sarawak, currently remained very much the electoral fixed deposits of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

"We also agree that Najib has been walking the talk so far. He has taken concrete steps to bring widespread changes to meet the aspirations of the people including those in Sabah and Sarawak," said Pairin.

"No doubt this is in line with his declaration on May 4 this year that BN must change or else the people will change (replace) the BN (as the government)."

Pairin was keen to stress in his speech that he doesn’t get an opportunity often to meet and discuss with the prime minister. Hence, he wanted to take advantage of his 24th PBS Congress speech to hold “an open discussion with Najib”.

"We hope the prime minister takes note that, as acknowledged by many people, the sense of unity and solidarity among the people of Sabah and Sarawak remains excellent as always.

"This is something that needs no improvement," assured Pairin.

"However, there are many other matters that need the serious attention of the federal government."

Schools in dire state of neglect

For starters, Pairin pointed out that many schools in the rural areas and the deep interior regions are in a dire state of neglect.

He added that Chinese and missionary schools needed help too and not just the government schools in the towns.

The result was that educational standards in Sabah were far below national standards and this was something that warranted the immediate and serious attention of the federal government.

"There are untold difficulties in raising educational standards in Sabah and Sarawak," said Pairin in stressing on the theme that "our children are our treasure and our future".

"This (education) is where nothing can be achieved without political will and the longterm commitment of the federal government."

Pairin also dwelt at some length on the increasing public complaints about the state of the roads, power blackouts, water shortages, the less than satisfactory penetration of telecommunication services, and the 'appalling' public healthcare system.

Kota Kinabalu, for example, is still without a general hospital. Needless to say, he pointed out, all these issues obviously provide political ammunition for the opposition in the forthcoming general election.

No equal treatment

There's the popular public perception that Sabah and Sarawak were not being equally treated as Peninsular Malaysia, noted Pairin.

For example, the poverty eradication programmes look good on paper but implementation has been lagging and downplays the key role of women.

“One way out of the poverty trap is through the contract farming system in the rural areas. But this is something that needs the understanding and support of the federal government.”

Elsewhere, he raised the burning question of the longstanding illegal immigrant menace in Sabah.

"It is clear than we need a once and for all solution to the problem of the illegal immigrants in Sabah. So far, there have been no serious and concrete actions taken to deal with the menace. Only piecemeal and temporary solutions have been taken so far," he observed.

The PBS leader pointed out that hordes of illegal immigrants can be seen wandering around everywhere in Sabah, right before the eyes of the law, "as if they own the place."