Govt listens to states' needs in setting 13MP priorities, says PM

The Star

a day ago

PENAMPANG: The Federal Government takes the needs and requests of all states into consideration when determining project priorities under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) .
He said priorities could not be determined solely by Putrajaya but jointly decided with state governments after the federal leadership hears and attends to their requests.
Citing Sabah, Anwar said that in almost every working visit he has made to the state, meetings or gatherings are held between senior officials to directly discuss requests from the state government.
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"Requests are made directly (at meetings) chaired by the Prime Minister, (with) chief ministers, state ministers attending.
"We listen and pay attention directly. Frankly, this only happens because of uniformity, (as well as) good and close relationships stemming from mutual trust,' he said when officiating the Sabah-level Kaamatan Festival celebration here on Friday (May 30).
The event, held at Dewan Hongkod Koisaan in the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), was also attended by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Anwar also expressed his gratitude to Hajiji and the state government for their openness to cooperate with Putrajaya in developing and elevating Sabah and the nation.
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The Prime Minister emphasised that the spirit to strengthen Sabah must be nurtured through the strong unity between the Federal and state governments within the framework of the Federation.
As such, he reminded all quarters not to raise issues that can erode that good relationship simply for political mileage, especially ahead of the Sabah elections due this year.
"In the battle leading up to this election… leaders who have led before, who were together, sometimes ... ramp up the political atmosphere, raising issues that erode confidence in the country… this is not healthy,' he said.
Anwar said the Federal Government and the states, particularly Sabah and Sarawak, have much diversity and some differences, but this must be seen as a strength for Malaysia as a whole.
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He said that when Malaysia was established, "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu' (Unity is Strength) was chosen as the national motto to illustrate the importance of togetherness in diversity in strengthening the country.
"Diversity can also be destructive, where there are countries in this world which initially embraced a multiracial and multi-religious society, but later experienced hostility between races, religions and regions. Which nation can be successful like that, everything will end up in ruins.
"So, no matter how difficult it is, any sensible leader in a political campaign to fight for the post of state assemblyman or Member of Parliament must remember never to sacrifice the state or country,' he said. – Bernama