"Raymond, don't pretend"

By Datuk Richard Yong

Datuk Raymond Tan should not pretend he is ignorant about the problems in Sabah.

Datuk Raymond talked about the need to find out why the Chinese voted opposition in Sarawak and support the saying of the Prime Minister that "if you are in touch with the people, you will get their support."

Raymond talked as if he is new in politic when in actual fact he has been in government for 17 years holding senior ministerial posts including that of Deputy Chief Minister. He should not pretend not to know the tons of problems faced by Sabah people.

I agreed his saying that Sabah is different from Sarawak. Yes, Sabah is different because Sabah has got more problems particularly in the case of illegal immigrants and fake IC.

Sabah, now being the poorest State with the highest hardcore poverty rate plagued by the illegal immigrants, fake IC, lack of job opportunities, muddy road, collapsed bridges, land grabs, fish bombing, environmental hazard, economic imbalances, forced evacuation. The lists can go on and on.

Can Datuk Raymond say he does not know of all these problems? The truth is he never touched on these issues and that had helped him keeping his post in government.

A lot of the people's representatives had let themselves turned into "Yes men".

Raymond also said that he doesn't feel the "winds of change" would blow in Sabah.

All the problems are serious and have long lasting effect on Sabah and the children of Sabah. Do you expect the people allow all these problems remain unsolved and still let the same government stay?!

Change will come, one way of another. Either the government change or the people will change the government!

Datuk Richard Yong is the Secretary-General of SAPP