KOTA KINABALU: Caught in the continuing controversy over cleanliness in Sabah's diving haven of Semporna, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal wants to know what the state local government minister has been doing for the last five years.
Shafie, the Semporna MP and Senallang assemblyman, said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government had failed to resolve the cleanliness problem, which was effectively handled when he was chief minister from 2018 to 2020.
The Parti Warisan president was responding to federal Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming's call to him to ensure that Semporna does not become the dirtiest town in Asia.
"Next year is Visit Malaysia 2026, so with all due respect, I would like to ask the Semporna MP to be diligent in going down to the field.
"It is understood that he has been there for over 30 years, and it is his responsibility to monitor the town’s cleanliness," Nga said in Tawau on Wednesday (Oct 8).
Shafie said that Nga should ask the question of his state counterpart, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, the Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister.
"As an MP, Nga should know better (as to) how a government works. Does he expect me to go into town and sweep the road?" Shafie asked the media after receiving membership applications to join Warisan from 12 retired state civil servants here on Thursday (Oct 9).
Shafie said the cleanliness of not only Semporna but also other problem districts was seen to by the Warisan administration, but GRS and Pakatan Harapan had failed to keep up the stringent cleanliness regime.
"We (Warisan) introduced special programmes in Semporna to ensure the town remained clean and beautiful.
"After cleaning operations and relocation work, we briefed our teams, and within two months, the problem was resolved,” he said.
To build a sense of community ownership, Shafie said they introduced a symbolic initiative where volunteers wore uniforms printed with his name – not for political purposes, but as a reminder of shared responsibility.
"We made special shirts for the volunteers, and on the back, we printed my name. It wasn’t political, but a reminder that keeping Semporna clean is everyone’s duty," he added.
Shafie said that as opposition assemblymen, Warisan representatives were barred from participating in district action committee meetings and, as such, had to settle for community development leaders appointed by the GRS-Pakatan administration.
He said the state government undermined the elected opposition assemblymen who knew the situation on the ground.
“Let’s be clear: even if (we) are from the opposition, (we) are still wakil rakyat (elected representatives). We know what’s happening on the ground. The district action committee should not be limited to members of the government," he said.
Shafie said governance should not be based on political bias but on service to the people.
"Development should not be denied just because an area is represented by the opposition. The roads, schools, and hospitals serve the people, not political parties," he said, adding that Malaysia must avoid "imbalanced development" between regions or districts because of political differences.
"It is crucial that our administration remains clean, fair and inclusive. Whether you are in government or opposition, we must all work together for the people," he said.
