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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional is proposing three steps to regain public trust in the government following the damaging viral video alleging corruption that implicated 14 assemblymen under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government.
Its information chief, Suhaimi Nasir, said that the state Barisan would consider enacting a Sabah Free, Prior and Informed Consent (Sabah FPIC) framework to protect native customary rights (NCR) land, ensuring that no negotiations are conducted secretly or without the people's knowledge.
It also aims to implement structural reforms at the state-owned Sabah Mineral Management company to ensure there is no political interference in its decisions.
“We want the mineral company to be managed by independent professionals and not politically affiliated individuals,” he said.
Suhaimi said that priority should be given to locally owned companies in all development and resource exploitation projects.
“These three key steps will help restore public trust and ensure that resource management is transparent, trustworthy, and serves the people,” he added.
He said Sabah Barisan Nasional was seriously concerned over disclosures allegedly linking senior Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders to the management of the state’s natural resources, particularly mining.
Suhaimi, who is Libaran MP, said that Sabah needs the “political courage” to defend the rights of its people, as great wealth means nothing if the dignity of the state was compromised.
“Sabah’s land is not for sale, but to be inherited by future generations,” he added.
