KUALA LUMPUR: The grouses of the people in Sabah should not be viewed lightly as this could bring about major implications in the next general election, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh said.The Kalabakan MP, who resigned as deputy natural resources and environment minister last month, also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reshuffle the Cabinet by the end of the year to include Sabah MPs in key ministerial posts."We want justice. Don't say we Sabahans are talking nonsense," he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address.He also asked for an increase of oil royalty from 5% to 20% so that the RM500mil allocation would be increased to RM2bil.Ghapur, who was once a Sabah deputy chief minister, also said the speech by Datuk Anifah Aman (BN - Kimanis) in the Dewan last week was a reflection of the sentiments in Sabah.Anifah had said that it was not wrong to switch parties or "to vacate a bungalow and move to a terraced house if we are not given sufficient room in the bungalow".Ghapur said it was an insult to Sabah MPs to be given a total of three ministerial posts when it was Sabah and Sarawak MPs who had helped Barisan Nasional secure a simple majority in the recent general election."They are tasked to look after museums (referring to Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal) and technology (referring to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili) and one in the Prime Minister's Department (Tan Sri Bernard Dompok)."These are not important Cabinet posts. I dare not take up the post of deputy minister. People in Sabah are not happy with the allocation."One state has seven ministers (referring to Johor), another state lost its state government and yet has four ministers (referring to Selangor)," he added.Ghapur said even though the representatives from Sabah might not cross over to the Opposition, they might form new parties and "we can then have the option of joining them".He said the matter should be given serious attention, as it was something that could happen.Ghapur also talked about conditions in Sabah where many people still live in attap-roofed houses and rely on wells for water supply.There were also students who were forced to sit on the floor because there were not enough chairs in classrooms, he said."Where is keadilan (justice) here?" he asked, to which many PKR MPs replied, "We are here".When Ghapur finished his speech the session broke for lunch and he was surrounded by Opposition MPs who shook his hand.When met by reporters later at the Parliament lobby, Ghapur said he would not be leaving Barisan to join another party."If we can solve the problem within, why should we look outside?"But if no one will listen to what I have said, then a tsunami will hit and I, and many of my friends, will be swept away in the next election," he said.
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis
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