JOHANNESBURG: Parties playing up state sentiments in the Sabah polls are doing so to hide from core issues of governance and years of unresolved problems, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said while it is fair that Sabahans want to have leaders from amongst them, it is important for them to be represented by those who can truly serve them.
Federal-state cooperation is also vital, he added.
“Without the commitment and determination from central leadership, the people will be burdened with unresolved issues.
“My main concern here is the people,” he told the media en route to Johannesburg, South Africa for a four-day working visit.
The Prime Minister was asked about how certain parties were playing up the Sabah for Sabahans sentiment in the state polls.
Sabah rights have become the emotional and political shorthand for those seeking to address the state's woes and the narrative for local leadership free from the grip of Peninsular politics.
Anwar said this election serves as an opportunity to explain what the Federal Government has done for the state.
“For the past three years, this government has taken every effort to resolve the people’s issues and bring about development to the people in Sabah.
“We will list down what we have done so far,” he said citing the progress made on the Malaysia Agreement as one of them.
To date, 13 of the 29 MA63 claims discussed under the agreement had been classified as resolved, of which nine were done by this administration.
Anwar also turned to efforts by the Federal Government to expedite the construction of the Sabah stretch of the Pan Borneo Highway and said it is working consistently to resolve water and electricity issues in the state.
The Sabah assembly was dissolved on Oct 6 and its 1.7 million voters will head to the ballot box on Nov 29.
