After GRS manifesto launch, Kit Siang reminds voters of 'unfulfilled promises'
SABAH POLLS | On the campaign trail for seven Warisan Plus candidates from the larger Sandakan area, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today reminded voters of alleged unfulfilled promises made by BN since the mid-90s.
Speaking at a Malaysia Day ceramah in Tanjong Papat, Lim said there were at least five main promises made by BN during its campaign for the 1994 Sabah state elections and general elections held a year later...
SABAH POLLS | On the campaign trail for seven Warisan Plus candidates from the larger Sandakan area, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today reminded voters of alleged unfulfilled promises made by BN since the mid-90s.
Speaking at a Malaysia Day ceramah in Tanjong Papat, Lim said there were at least five main promises made by BN during its campaign for the 1994 Sabah state elections and general elections held a year later.
"We can remember when Umno came to Sabah...In their campaign they had also made promises," said Lim, taking a swipe at Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's Aku Janji campaign manifesto launched by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Kota Kinabalu earlier today.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin also spoke at the event, alongside other GRS components comprising BN and PN allies.
"He (Bung) said Umno leaders have changed, they were not like before...there is change, Bung has become a bigger leader now," said Lim.
The Sabah state elections in 1994 were reportedly won by the incumbent state government and federal opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by its then-president Joseph Kitingan.
The party was, however, soon forced out of power due to reported defections by its assemblypersons, resulting in BN forming the government, led by Sakaran Dandai as the first chief minister from Umno.
Earlier today, Bung insisted that Umno and BN have changed and are committed to a fairer, transparent, and trustworthy administration that will deliver on its promises to the people.
At the launch of GRS' Aku Janji campaign manifesto, Bung also asked the people to help save Sabah from the 'disaster' that was wrought by Chief Minister Shafie Apdal's two years at the helm.
Read more: Sabah Decides 2020: Making sense of the players, parties and battles
Recalling BN's initial foray into Sabah, Lim claimed that the then federal government had at the time promised to bring down the poverty level in Sabah from 33 percent in 1994 to zero by the year 2000.
Lim further claimed other alleged promises unfulfilled include to eradicate illiteracy, to provide every single Sabahan with a home, to eradicate corruption and to resolve the long-standing problem surrounding undocumented migrants.
"BN promised to resolve the issue of undocumented migrants.
"There was a Royal Commission of Inquiry but the problem was not resolved," said Lim, in reference to the RCI formed in August 2012, to investigate the problems relating to citizenship and immigrants in Sabah.
Other central DAP figures present today include Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi who noted that there could be voters who were unhappy with the party's move to field its candidates under the Warisan banner this time around.
All seven Warisan Plus candidates in the larger Sandakan area covering three parliaments were present at the event held at the local futsal court.
Of the seven candidates, four are incumbents defending their seats - Arunarnsin Taib (N50 Gum Gum), George Hiew (N54 Karamunting), Calvin Chong (N55 Elopura) and Frankie Poon (N56 Tanjung Papat).
The remaining three are newcomers and first-time contenders - Mahmud Sudin (N51 Sungai Manila), Armani Mahiruddin (N52 Sungai Sibuga) and Alias Sani (N53 Sekong).
They earlier also launched a joint development agenda dubbed "Sandakan Berpadu, Sabah Baharu".
Polling day for the Sabah state elections will be held on Sept 26.
Follow Malaysiakini's coverage of the Sabah state election here.
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