SUKAU assemblyman Datuk Saddi
Abdul Rahman has called for investigation of Batu Sapi PAS chief for allegedly
issuing a statement insulting the Head of State. Saddi reasoned that the
opposition leader, Hamzah Abdullah, had disrespectedly questioned the
appointment and authority of the Head of State in his on-line article by
labelling the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin as “raja Sabah tanpa
daulat” (“the king of Sabah without sovereignty”).
The remarks, he added, openly
insulted and challenged an institution that has long been recognised and
accepted as the symbol of the State’s sovereignty.“I proposed to this august
House that an investigation be carried out and that stern action be taken by the
Police, the Information Ministry and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia
Commission against the perpetrator, should it be proven that he had committed
this offence.
“I was told that this
individual, Hamzah Abdullah, is still freely instigating the people to believe
that his action of insulting the Head of State had not been acted upon by the
authorities.
“I am of the opinion that
failure to take action against this person would tarnish the image and
sovereignty of the State in the eyes of the outsiders as well as the local
people who may think that anybody can criticise and insult the head of the
government without fear of the law of this country,” he said when taking part
in the debate at the State Legislative sitting yesterday.
Saddi said there had been a
public outcry demanding for immediate action be taken following the release of
the on-line article, with several police reports being lodged by individuals
and organisations across the State urging the authorities to punish the
individuals involved.
He added that Hamzah’s remarks
was also an insult to the country’s royal institution which sanctioned Juhar’s
appointment as Head of State. Saddi also expressed
concurrence to Sekong (BN) assemblyman’s suggestion for the Jaksa Pendamai (JP)
award to Hamzah by the Istana to be revoked.
On other issues, Saddi called
on the Sandakan local authority to pay attention to the welfare of the people
residing in coastal villages. He disclosed to the House that
public infrastructure and amenities in 16 coastal villages in the district were
in very poor condition and a number of government projects implemented in these
areas had not fulfilled the specifications.
He also urged the Housing and
Urban Development Board (LPPB) to expedite works for developing Pekan Baru Sukau,
noting that no visible progress has been made on the long-term development
blueprint approved and launched in July 2010.
“Chief Minister Datuk Seri
Musa Aman when officiating at the launch had said that the state government
would consider allocating RM200 million for the Pekan Baru Sukau project. “Today, nearly 18 months since
the project was approved, the people are still waiting for it to commence,” he
said.
Saddi also proposed to the
government to degazette 4,000 acres of land in the Pin-Sipu forest reserve as
settlement area, to replace the 4,000 acres in Kampung Abai that has been
gazetted as forest reserve.
Theborneopost 28 Mac 2012