MEMBAKUT: Sabah needs a strong opposition representative to speak for its people in Parliament, said former federal minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
The Rembau MP said that Sabah’s opposition coalition currently only has one voice in Parliament – that of Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
He said Barisan Nasional (BN) wants a victory in the Kimanis parliamentary by-election so that its candidate, Datuk Mohamad Alamin, could fight alongside Bung in the August House.
"I feel pity seeing Datuk Bung having to go to court almost every day to settle his case (for corruption). Who wants to replace him in Parliament if not Kimanis?
"We need a strong opposition voice from Sabah because we currently only have one," he said during a BN campaign talk at Batu Eman near Kimanis, last night.
Khairy explained that Sabah needs an active opposition voice to express the various issues faced by the state, such as the Pan Borneo Highway, the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS), and the high cost of living.
He added that there must be a voice in the Dewan Rakyat demanding the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway according to schedule; and to question Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman about the PSS.
Khairy stressed that Mohamad meets the criteria to be the people's voice with his experience as a Bongawawan assemblyman.
Later, in his short speech, Mohamad said he knew that winning the Kimanis by-election would not make BN return as government.
"But I promise to bring the voice of Sabah and Kimanis. I feel phobia on issues like PSS because it looks like Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) is not defending the rights of the Sabah people, but foreigners.
"I will tell this to (Datuk Mohd) Azis Jamman in Parliament for implementing the PSS in Sabah," he said.
Mohamad will face Warisan candidate Datuk Karim Bujang in the by-election, with polling set on Jan 18.