A SURPLUS budget is nothing to be proud of when many Sabahans are still forced to find work in Peninsular Malaysia, said Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Commenting on Sabah’s Budget 2018, which was tabled on Friday, the Parti Warisan Sabah president, who was in Keningau today, said there was no need for excess funds when the state government had not created enough jobs for locals.

“The state government should use the money to build more factories and provide jobs. Having a surplus budget is nothing to be proud of.

“What is the meaning of having a surplus budget when our own people have to go to the peninsula to work? The budget should be used to help our own people.”

Chief Minister Musa Aman had tabled a RM4.104 billion budget for the state, with a surplus of RM64.89 million.

On another matter, Shafie said Warisan was prepared to face the 14th general election, saying all election materials were ready, including the candidates’ list and appointment letters.

“We are in need of change. Warisan may not have much money, perhaps just enough to pay our deposits (for the election), but we are going through the candidates’ list right now and we want to make sure only winnable candidates are fielded.

“We must win to oust the Barisan Nasional government from the state.”

Shafie reiterated Warisan’s stand that it would not form pacts with other opposition parties, but it supported Pakatan Harapan’s efforts to wrest Putrajaya from BN.

He warned of the challenges in going up against the ruling coalition, saying the fight was “not for the faint-hearted” and that the enemy had “all the government agencies and departments at their disposal”.

More than 5,000 people attended Warisan’s event in Keningau, which Shafie described as “the culmination of the racial unity of the Orang Sabah”.

He said the huge turnout proved that divisions between ethnic groups of Filipino descent, like the Bajau and Suluk, and the Kadazandusun Murut could be erased. – November 19, 2017.