MAKE YOUR OWN POLICY TO HANDLE CURRENT SITUATION, UPKO TELLS GOVT

Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau

30 June 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) recommends that the State Government have its own policy that is different from the Federal Government to deal with the current situation in the state.

In making the call, its president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said such an approach would be in line with the people's demands on the principle of decentralisation in the government administration.

He stated that people are fighting for decentralisation and as the leader of the fight, Upko provides support and cooperation in any decentralisation measures.

"However, the implementation of such a new policy requires coordination between all parties involved, especially the federal government.

"This is because the enforcement of the policy involves agencies and departments from the central government," he said in a statement today.

According to Madius who is also the Tuaran MP, the move to introduce a new policy without coordination would only make the situation chaotic as happened when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was scheduled to end on June 28.

“Why not make plans and make announcements in advance so that traders, as well as enforcement agencies, can be prepared?

"The State Government in introducing a new policy that is different from the Central government has to make decisions based on 'scientific reasons and data'.

"Besides that, we need to be more prepared in informing and justifying the decision to the federal government so that there is no confusion that only bothers the people."

Madius also questioned whether the Sabah government is still working with the federal government.

"The people are quite dizzy now. Various questions have arisen, adding to the confusion and uncertainty.

"Although the daily number of Covid-19 cases is decreasing, it does not reflect the real situation.

“The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) himself has already said that Covid-19 has become endemic in our community.

"That is why to combat Covid-19, the State Government needs to take steps to be directly involved in the vaccination program, including in the procurement of vaccines, which is now the main reason why Sabah's vaccination rate is the lowest in the country," he asserted.

The organisation also urged the authorities to reconvene Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly in order to discuss the current policy issues.