KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Political coalitions’ promise to create more deputy prime ministerships for Sabah and Sarawak were like “instant noodle” offers to win over the two states, said PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
According to Berita Harian, he said these were just weak attempts to curry favour with voters in Sabah and Sarawak for the 15th general election.
“The ‘instant noodles’ offer is a depiction of a desperate group. I am confident that whatever is asked of this desperate group, will be promised.
“(Even if there is a) request for a river, it may be approved but the question is whether it is sensible and good for the future of the country,” Tuan Ibrahim was quoted as saying.
Tuan Ibrahim added that the position of deputy prime minister must be based on the need for the development of the whole country instead of a specific region.
Adding more than one DPM would simply inflate the cost of maintaining the Cabinet, he said.
“During more than 60 years of our independence, all regions were given the same attention. We even created the position of minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the caretaker minister of environment and water, said financial allocations for the Borneo states would also be more meaningful than simply creating a position for politicians from there.
Perikatan Nasional has not discussed the position of deputy prime minister for the eventuality that it wins GE15, he said.
Tuan Ibrahim was responding to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan’s proposal to create deputy prime ministerships specifically for elected leaders from Sabah and Sarawak in addition to one from the peninsula.
