Nizam rebukes Suhaimi over emotional rhetoric and unanswered RM7.5 billion question
KOTA KINABALU (May 19): Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Haji Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, has issued a firm rebuttal to recent comments by Libaran member of parliament Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, accusing him of being overly emotional and ignoring key issues of public accountability.
Nizam thanked Suhaimi for what he described as 'closely monitoring' his actions, suggesting that his name still held enough influence to provoke strong reactions.
'Clearly, my name carries enough weight to elicit an angry and emotional tone — a sign that the truth, however bitter, unsettles those with vested interests,' said Nizam.
In response to Suhaimi's remark urging him to 'look into the mirror,' Nizam retorted, 'Sometimes the mirror itself is cracked, and what one sees is merely the shadow of unresolved political grudges. Perhaps that is why he fails to distinguish between fact and sentiment.'
The Apas assemblyman acknowledged his past involvement in government but dismissed any accusation of hypocrisy.
'I do not deny once being part of the government, and I do not hide my record. The difference is, I did not reappear after two decades of silence pretending to be as pure as a white cloth. I continued to serve and stay with the people — not just re-emerge to shape perceptions,' he said.
Nizam also took issue with Suhaimi's reference to being 'grateful to Umno,' calling such a mindset outdated.
'I am unsure if he is still trapped in 1990s-style politics, where positions were seen as party gifts instead of a mandate from the people. I wish him a speedy recovery from that nostalgic delusion,' he added.
He criticised Suhaimi for indirectly casting aspersions on current Sabah cabinet members, who he said were working together to rectify mistakes made by previous leaders, including those from Umno.
'This is a textbook example of spitting into the wind,' Nizam remarked.
Central to Nizam's response was a demand for accountability regarding the RM7.5 billion in federal funding for basic infrastructure projects during the Umno-led administration.
'My question remains unanswered: What happened to the RM7.5 billion in basic infrastructure funds during the Umno era? So far, it has only been met with emotion, not data.'
Nizam concluded by calling for mature leadership and constructive contributions.
'Sabah does not need politicians who get offended when criticized. Sabah needs those who can accept criticism, work quietly, and deliver results — not long essays filled with metaphors, sarcasm, and nostalgia for lost seats.'
'If Datuk Suhaimi and the current Sabah Umno leadership truly wish to change and leave behind the burdens of the past, then start by contributing — not attacking. And if dramatics are necessary, at least ensure the script is logical and the characters are not contradictory.'
Nizam currently serves as the Information Chief of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, a component of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government.
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