Fickleness makes Warisan-led administration a 'U-turn Government'

KOTA KINABALU:  The Warisan-led State Government's inconsistent stand has raised eyebrows of many including those who voted for them, claimed Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

"At the rate of the flip-flop decisions being made, this Warisan-led coalition State government should be known as the 'U-turn government'," he said in a statement here, today.

Nonetheless, Joniston said the Warisan-led State government's "U turn" on the Papar (previously Kaiduan) Dam and the Tanjung Aru Eco-Development projects was actually an open acknowledgement that the previous government had the foresight to further hasten Sabah's economic development.

Prior to the 14th General Election, those in the present coalition State Government have expressed objections to these developments, exploiting it as their campaign issues and telling the people the projects were of no benefit to them and the State, he said.

"And now these very same people have made a 360-degree turn around and telling the people that the projects must be continued in view of its immense benefits to the State.

"This is ironic. It tantamounts to admitting that they have been wrong for objecting to the developments previously," he said.

The Kiulu Assemblyman was also puzzled with the deafening silence of NGOs leaders who are now part of the government.

"They have been scrutinising and tirelessly opposing to the proposed dam project during the previous state administrations.

"Why are they not speaking up now? Do they know something that we don't know?" he asked.

He added that if these NGOs really had a change of heart then the people deserves to know the reasons.

Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony was reported earlier this week as saying that the Kaiduan Dam now known as Papar Dam project would proceed albeit in a new area.

He added that the dam was really needed to cater for the projected hike in water supply demand due to increased populations as well as the coming up of the TAED project.

This was contrary to the statement of his colleague, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong who stated that the TAED would be scrapped.

Junz who is also Tanjung Aru Assemblyman when asked by the media to comment on Peter's statement yesterday said he was never against the (TAED) project but assured that the state government would not compromise the interests of the people of Sabah.