He said much-needed infrastructure projects could be carried out if it retained 40% of revenue derived from the state.
“The billions of ringgit (now channelled to the federal government) could be used to stimulate development in Sabah such as carrying out urgently needed infrastructure projects,” he said.
“One of the urgent projects is the need to improve public transport, especially within the Kota Kinabalu area.”
His party would get cracking on an overall solution that would include a light rail transit (LRT) system. If the Sarawak government could push for an LRT project without any help or permission from the federal government, there was no reason PHRS could not to initiate such a project in Sabah as well.
“This is what comes from an autonomous Sabah that we are pursuing instead of having to refer to Putrajaya for any decision because the political masters are there,” he said.
Lajim said PHRS would also address Sabah’s security issues by issuing Sabah identity cards to weed out foreigners living in the state with dubious documents.
“These are some of the issues that are close to the hearts of the Chinese, we are confident the community will back us in this election,” he said.
Lajim said he understood the needs of the Chinese community, having grown up among them in Beaufort.
“As former state minister and federal deputy minister, I made it a point to seek the views of the Chinese community and these have proven to be invaluable,” he said.
Lajim sounded a warning against Peninsula-based parties continuing to be in power in Sabah, saying they posed a threat to communal harmony. “Peninsula-based parties with their divisive culture will undermine the harmony among Sabahans and they don’t care as long they come into power,” he said.
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