Promise of increased development for Sabah and Sarawak

What say you on the issue below?

KUCHING: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to give priority to infrastructure development in Sarawak and Sabah to enable both states to catch up with the peninsula.

The Prime Minister said allocations for additional roads, power and water supply and infrastructure needs would be made for both states to help “narrow the gap.”

“The government will continue to pursue this agenda because we want all Malaysians to enjoy meaningful development,” he said at a buka puasa function with 5,000 people at Masjid Negri here last night.

Speaking to the people here on his post-Malaysia Day visit, he pledged to ensure that development efforts were fairly distributed.

“As we commemorate Malaysia Day, I stand here in front of you as the leader of the government to declare that we will bring more development to Sarawak,” he said to loud cheers from the crowd.

He stressed that fairness and equality to all Malaysians was the core basis of the 1Malaysia concept to bring about greater unity in the country.

“This unity is our dream ... to be one nation and one country.”

Najib also said the Government was committed to ensuring prosperity and eradicating poverty. “Poverty is our enemy and no country has fought it more successfully than Malaysia. By the end of next year, 45,000 identified hardcore poor people will no longer be classified as such.

“Via donations and contributions, we will continue to widen our social safety net to help the poor,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Sarawak needed more funds to improve its infrastructure to enable the state to be on par with the developed states in the peninsula. He thanked the Federal Government for its continued support in providing development funds and approving various projects under the economic stimulus package.

He said Sarawak would answer the Prime Minister’s call to build a strong nation in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

“We will play our part so that Malaysia will continue to prosper in peace,” he said in his speech read out by state Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg.