MONDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER 2008- PBS HAS NOT LOST ITS FIRE

PBS has not lost its fire

PENAMPANG:

Not being outspoken and vocal about issues affecting the State does not mean that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has lost its ‘fire’, President Datuk Seri Joseph
Pairin Kitingan said.

Speaking at the Party’s 23rd annual delegates congress here yesterday, Pairin in his policy speech said that there are doubts, maybe even from PBS members, about it being on ‘silent mode’.

“People are saying that PBS has lost its voice and I have personally heard such accusations but I don’t blame these doubters because they may not realise what PBS has achieved all this while,” he said.

“In reality we have never been quiet and as a matter of fact, we are more active in voicing out issues concerning the people of Sabah,” he said, adding that the fact remains that PBS is no longer an opposition Party.

Pairin said PBS, when it was in the opposition, was very vocal in its criticism of the Government but now it is part of the Government and will continue to raise Sabah related issues to the Government and seek solutions to long-standing problems.

“Our role now is not to publicly criticise the Government just to seek popularity.” he said, adding that there is no point barking into the sky when no one listens.

Since PBS rejoined the Barisan Nasional (BN), good relations have been maintained, he said and stressed that PBS does not bring up issues in the newspapers but prefers to appeal and coax leaders through the proper channels to accept its views.

This is a more effective method as the BN Government is always open to discussions, he said.

“For example, the Federal Government’s decision to conduct a massive operation against illegal immigrants in the State was not spurred by those who were vocal through the newspapers,” he said.

Pairin said the Government’s decision was the result of PBS’ appeals and coaxing, adding the Party was successful in convincing the Government that the problem has reached an intolerable level for the people in Sabah.

“I wish to remind everyone that PBS during an official visit to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently by its Supreme Council members, had submitted a detailed memorandum to the Federal Government about the problems faced by the rakyat in Sabah,” he said.

Pairin said that since the Party was formed, it has never wavered from its struggles and will not back down in fighting for the rights of the people in Sabah.