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Decision on RDAs justifies Upko's urging:
Mojigoh
April 4, 2008 (Source: Daily Express)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Government's
decision to establish new Regional Development
Authorities (RDAs) in Sabah and Sarawak under
the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) justifies Upko's
urging the State Government to reconsider its
objection to the idea.
Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said the
creation of the new RDAs, which Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revealed when
tabling the 9MP last Friday, was to develop
interior and rural growth centres.
Following the announcement, reliable sources
said the Federal Government would be meeting
with the State Government to discuss the
proposed RDA formation in Sabah soon.
Meanwhile, Mojigoh, when met here, urged the
State Government to seriously reconsider its
decision to reject the RDA proposal.
"The
RDA will be the engine of growthÆhere's no
hidden agenda. If we don't do that, we are going
to be left behind. If we look at the gap between
us and the other states, it is getting wider,"
he said.
"So
I hope the State Government will seriously
reconsider the decision for the benefit of the
minority Bumiputeras in Sabah who are really in
need of the development," he said.
Mojigoh, who is also a Upko vice president, said
under the 9MP, the Federal Government would be
aggressively developing the Native Land and
Customary Rights land in Sabah and Sarawak.
"This is where the RDAs should come in where the
people with the right expertise can help develop
the land for the land owners like in Kedah
Regional Development Authority, Kelantan Selatan
Development Authority and Central Terengganu
Development Authorities, among others," he said.
He
said these RDAs in the peninsula had produced
results, so there is no reason for the State
Government to fear it.
"There is nothing to fear," he said, adding
under the proposal the chairman of the RDA will
be the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, he said the State Government must
also ensure the 9MP is implemented successfully
as envisioned by the Prime Minister.
"There have been a lot of weaknesses during the
8MP because of an ineffective delivery system,"
he said.
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