Tangau on his book
January 14, 2008 ( Source: Daily Express)

Tuaran: At least RM10 billion is needed to seal all the roads in Sabah but the allocation for the purpose in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) was just RM500 million, said Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

"This is simply insufficient. In my constituency alone, there are about 199km of unsealed roads that require about RM400 million. So (this is what) I told the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) (to ensure the fund estimate is accordingly) and today I think the Government and the EPU understands," he said.

Tangau, who is also United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Secretary-General, said this when asked to comment on the book entitled "Suara Parlimen Anda (Your Parliament Voice)", which was launched Sunday.

Launched by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who is also Upko President, at Dewan Bersatu, here, the book features a compilation of Tangau's speeches in Parliament from 2000 to 2007.

The issue of basic infrastructure, namely unsealed roads, was raised by Tangau during the seven-minute adjournment speech that was also included in the book of over 200 pages.

Among other issues highlighted in his speeches and can be found in the book is poverty where, in one instance, Tangau questioned the reason for Sabah's poverty rate, which had gone down to 16 per cent, to go back up to 24 per cent.

"I am saying that it has got something to do with the increase in Sabah's population, especially the new Bumiputeras who are from the Philippines and Indonesia, and I am not apologetic about this," he said.

It was true that based on the population, Sabah's poverty rate was 16 per cent but with the new Bumiputeras the percentage rose and the opposition could not blame the Government as though it had failed in discharging its duties, he said.

Another issue he had raised in his speeches while debating important policies such as the Malaysia Plans, Third Outline Perspective Policy, annual Budget, among others, in the Parliament was education.

Nonetheless, Tangau said the Government was now focusing seriously in upgrading the education standard by providing sufficient funding for the programmes.

"My only concern is the implementation," he said.

He also hoped the book would be self-explanatory to rebuke claims that he had only been harping on just one issue, that is the illegal immigrants and IMM13 holders in Parliament.

"There are those who say that I am raising the particular issue on behalf of just one community, so I think this book will be able to explain that the issue being raised in the Parliament is nationalistic," he said.

The speeches extracted from the Parliament Hansard are spread over 22 chapters and about 2,000 copies had been printed.

Tangau said the book also contained information on successful people in various fields such as sports, education and music in his constituency.

He hoped the book would be able to provide information to the constituents in 300 villages in the constituency.

Earlier, Tangau accompanied Dompok to present complimentary copies of the book to the Barisan Nasional component parties and local community leaders in the three State constituencies in his Parliamentary area - Kiulu, Tamparuli and Sulaman.