PENAMPANG: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s absence in Sabah throughout the 14th general election campaign shows that he does not place any sort of importance on the welfare of Sabahans.
Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak questioned whether the PKR Langkawi candidate was afraid of coming to Sabah, knowing that he was not well liked.
“I am the prime minister who has always come to Sabah, not just during election. I love to meet with ‘urang-urang Sabah’. There is one former prime minister, who served for 22 years, but he doesn’t like to meet with ‘urang-urang Sabah’.
“He wants to be prime minister again, but he never campaigns in Sabah. Why doesn’t he come to Sabah? Would you like him to come to Sabah? Did you like him when he was the prime minister?” he asked those gathered at a meet-the-people session here, to which he received a resounding “no” from the floor.
“If you don’t, then support BN. How can you become a prime minister if you leave Sabah out? This means that in his heart, he never loved the people of Sabah and he doesn’t care about you.”
The prime minister was speaking to more than 5,000 people at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall, here.
Present were Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman, PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Upko acting president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Penampang parliament candidate Ceasar Mandela Malakun, Moyog state candidate Datuk Donald Mojuntin and Kapayan state candidate Datuk Francis Goh Fah Shun.
Najib called on Sabahans, particularly Penampang constituents, to give BN a strong mandate in the 14th general election as he has bigger plans for the state and nation as a whole.
“We want to build a greater future. Give me and BN a strong mandate on May 9. I cannot do this alone and with my colleagues, but with the people’s support and God’s will, we will surely win.
“We have started the transformation journey, we have been recognised at international arena. The world is waiting for us so don’t make mistakes,” he said.
Earlier in the event, it was announced that 1,000 members from Parti Warisan Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku left their respective parties to join BN.