The GRS deputy secretary-general said that before Bung pulled out support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, he was the state works minister from 2021 to 2022.
“So for him to say that GRS is a failed government is like shooting himself in the foot,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 19).
Armizan said that during those two years, there was no main water stabilisation project that was implemented.
“For example, in Tawau, the Cinta Mata 2 Water Treatment Plant project only started commencement on July 22 this year, and this is expected to be completed in three years,” he said.
In Papar, the Kogopon upgrading project could only start in August 2023, he said, adding that these projects only began after Datuk Shahelmey Yahya replaced Bung.
Armizan said these projects had in fact been planned by the ministry earlier, and to say that the GRS government failed was unfair and untrue.
“In fact, Bung is the failed minister because his successor managed to get these projects moving,” he said.
On issues of electricity, he said the electricity regulatory authority was officially returned to the state on Jan 3, 2024, whereas the major shareholders for Sabah Electricity were still under the Federal Government.
Armizan said these powers have been held by the previous government for decades, and to say that the GRS government failed was not fair.
He said when Umno was still in the state government, two Umno division chiefs were appointed to the Sabah Electricity board of directors.
“But what did these two Umno representatives do to solve electricity issues in Sabah?” he asked.
Armizan’s statement comes following a recent campaign speech from Bung, who accused GRS as the most incompetent government in managing the people and the economy.
Bung also claimed that with so many local parties in Sabah, including GRS, it was surprising how they were still unable to unite if they were sincere in fighting for state rights.
In response, Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir hit back at Armizan, stating that the delays in these said projects were due to the systematic problems inherited from the past governments.
He said these delays were also due to bureaucratic issues and other administrative problems that the GRS government failed to address.
He said instead of owning up to their weaknesses, GRS chose to divert the attention to Bung.
Suhaimi said that for Barisan, their focus when they win the state election was to fast-track critical projects and set up a Project Delivery Unit (PDU) to monitor all these projects.
