Q: Where does Sabah Umno stand politically halfway to the next election?
A: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government and Umno have a proven track record when it comes to delivering on its promises. Sabah has had an “AAA” rating for seven years in a row in the context of its financial capability, and a “clean bill” for 15 years for financial management and administrative machinery.
In last year’s National Audit Report, 24 state government entities were awarded the highest rating of four stars under the Accountability Index — the best in the country. I do not see any reason why Sabah Umno, and BN in particular, cannot perform as well as they did in the last general election.
Q: How well has Sabah Umno rebuilt the people’s confidence in the ruling coalition?
A: I believe in showing our capabilities rather than bragging about it. A substantial number of our members of parliament are in the federal cabinet. This proves Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak recognises Sabah BN’s contribution to bringing victory to the BN government in the last general election.
It also shows the desire to bring more development to Sabah. One good example is the 2016 Budget. A substantial amount has been allocated for projects that benefit the people.
Q: How will Sabah address challenges that may hinder development in the state?
A: We are sincere in our approach and in whatever we do, the emphasis will always be on the people. This is also where we need to go back to the original struggles, which require us to put the interest of the people and party first.
The 2016 Sabah Budget passed recently shows that the BN government is realistic and pragmatic. At RM3.49 billion, it is a lean budget but has a surplus of RM30 million.
Q: What steps has Sabah Umno taken to remain relevant to the younger generation?
A: Leaders of the party need to go to the ground, reach out to people and serve. From basic infrastructure needs to educational approaches, economic programmes and housing concerns, much has been relayed to the leadership. The younger generation will look at the things we do and how we tackle issues.
We have the distinction of being the state with the highest number of Umno members, more than 530,000 this year, of which more than 65 per cent are eligible voters.
Q: What do you hope members will take away from this year’s general assembly?
A: This assembly will set the direction of the party and delegates will be tasked with disseminating the message when they return. It will be important for all to take note of how the party leadership plans to deal with the economic and political challenges in the country. Plans will also be updated and new ones will be deliberated. So it is important for members to gauge where they stand ahead of the next general election.