DAP leaders should fulfil their promises to Sabahans instead of trying to be a champion on the khat issue, said former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee today.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president said Sabahans have not forgotten DAP’s “attractive and memorable” promises before the last general election.

“Among the explicit and undeniable promises are the return of 50% of tax revenues to Sabah, which was announced by Guan Eng, in the presence of Sabah DAP leaders, before the last general elections,” he said referring to DAP secretary-general and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Another unforgettable promise they made is the 20% oil royalties to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in a statement from Kota Kinabalu.

Yong also told Lim to hold to his words to implement the 49 projects valued at RM2.28 billion, as promised during the Sandakan by-election three months ago.

“Other notable promises made by DAP are the completion of the Kota Kinabalu abandoned skybridge, which requires an additional RM2 million of federal funds” that Sabah DAP leaders have been unable to obtain from Lim, according to Yong.

Construction of the RM31 million Kota Kinabalu skybridge was suspended and left abandoned for close to two years after the developer defaulted on a RM20 million debt to the contractor.

Yong said it was also disappointing that the Pakatan Harapan government had introduced more new taxes since coming to power – such as departure tax, soda tax, digital tax, sales and services tax, imported service tax (B2B), and increases on stamp duties and real property gains taxes.

Meanwhile, he said it is a shame that DAP is trying to be the self-appointed champion of the khat issue.

“Khat is not in the manifesto of any political party but yet DAP is now the main campaigner to convince the Chinese community to accept it.

“This is a gross mockery of the people who had put their trust on DAP.

“The finance minister should disclose how many millions more ringgit will be needed to recruit, train and place more Jawi or khat teachers in Chinese, Tamil and other schools nationwide.

“The people were promised UEC but got Jawi or khat instead,” he said. – August 12, 2019.