Sabah Umno Youth today urged PKR not to politicise poverty in Sabah but do something to help solve the problem.

Its head, Azman Ruslan, said responsible leaders, both in the government and opposition, had equal responsibilities as far as poverty eradication was concerned.

"We cannot simply tell people that our country is poor and yet not do anything about it.

"The Umno-led BN government is a responsible government and that’s the very reason why a large number of Sabahans have joined Umno because they believe the party has the credibility and capability to bring about socio-economic development in the state," he told Bernama .

Azman, who is also Keningau Umno Youth head, was commenting on PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan’s recent statement implying that there was nothing to be excited about with the large number of Umno members in Sabah while the state was the second poorest in the country.

On another matter, Azman said Sabah Umno Youth supported the state government's move to convert forest reserve into state land, especially where locals are known to have been living for generations.

"We welcome the move as this will give the locals the opportunity to develop the land without fear of eviction," he said.

Azman suggested that the Land and Survey Department check the background of all land applicants to ensure that only genuine locals were entertained.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman announced on Monday that efforts

were under way to convert, where necessary, forest reserve into state land to enable locals who had been living there for generations to continue staying there.

- Bernama