Sunday 2 November 2008

PM: Goodbye PBS...we will meet again

Abdullah being greeted by Pairin. At centre is Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman







"Remain Loyal Partner Of BN," Parting Advice From Abdullah To PBS

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- "Remain a loyal partner in the (Barisan Nasional) coalition" was the parting advice Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a party he had helped to bring back into the BN fold in 2002 after it had left the coalition 12 years earlier.

"Now I realise that this is going to be my goodbye speech. I do not want to cut my ties with PBS even after I step down (as prime minister). We will meet again, God willing, at other forums because I will remain a member of Umno and of the BN," he said when opening the 23rd annual general assembly of PBS here today.

Abdullah has announced he would hand over power to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after the Umno elections in March next year.

Addressing the PBS assembly today, Abdullah reminisced his role in bringing back PBS into the BN fold, saying: "While I was Umno deputy president cum BN deputy chairman, one thing that occurred in my mind was that I didn't want to see the BN and Umno and other parties to always adopt a confrontational stand against a big party like PBS which is led by Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan, a Huguan Siou (Paramount Leader) of the Kadazandusun community in Sabah.

"This (the return to the BN fold) is good for unity and is good for the people of Sabah. I hope PBS will continue to work hand-in-hand with the other BN component parties to steer this state to greater heights," he said.

Pairin, in his speech earlier, had welcomed Abdullah to today's assembly by reciting a special "pantun" (poem) entitled "Kalau bukan kerana Pak Lah, Tak mungkin PBS dalam BN" (If not for Pak Lah, PBS may not be in the BN) to the applause of the more than 1,000 PBS delegates who gave Abdullah a standing ovation.

"Thank you, Pak Lah, for working so hard for the benefit of the poor people. You would always be remembered for giving more freedom of expression, which should not be abused to the detriment of harmony and security," said Pairin.

He said Abdullah would also be remembered for emphasising religious freedom, judiciary reforms, warrior-like battle against corruption and the drug menace and emphasis on equipping the youth for the future.

Benson Gampawi, a delegate from Kota Marudu, said: "Pak Lah is a darling of PBS. Without him, we might not be in the BN. He deserves a standing ovation. Pak Lah is our idol who ... enabled us to be part of the mainstream political arena again."

Joos Galid, a delegate from Kiulu, said Abdullah had done a lot for the people of Sabah, particularly in implementing the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) blueprint.

"He is a visionary and a moderate leader. I admire his farsightedness and his vision for Sabah and I'm saddened that he will retire soon."

3 comments:

San Tot said...

...thanks for visiting Sabah Badawi....yet we remain to be Malaysia's STEPMEMBER.....wished we could change that status to September Malaysians!

..shop's closed! said...

...goodbye PBS...please dissolve into thin air!

Anonymous said...

Pak Lah came to Sabah with the last task of ripping Sabah off her economy, yeah, to allow the Petronas 500km Pipeline project from Kimanis to Miri. This is some thing that we just cannot comprehend, maybe we just don't have to as it he is about to leave, some form of token must be rewarded to him..
It is rumoured that some Sabah big guns have interests in the pipelaying contract..
That's just like what the Malay proverb says " Sunggoh Malang Nasib Pak Kadok, Ayam Manang Kampung tergadai...