Peter Mak
LABUAN: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Labuan Division is glad that while Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who celebrated his first year in office recently, rightly said that the proposed Sabah-Labuan bridge is not a priority at the moment, he did not shelve the prospect of its construction.
Its Chief Peter Mak said they are optimistic that Anwar, who always has the welfare of the people at heart, will reconsider the proposed bridge project once the water and electricity supply problems are resolved.
“We reckon would be not too far away since a specific budget has been allocated for the purpose (resolving water and electricity problems),” he said in a statement today.
“Once the supply of water and electricity is sufficient for the people and industry, the proposed bridge would realise its full potential in catering to the needs of the people and as an industrial and development enabler.
“This would serve Labuan and the people of Labuan and Sabah well,” he added.
Mak said PBS Labuan understands the position of the Prime Minister when he said that the Sabah-Labuan bridge is not a priority compared to more pressing needs, specifically the inadequate and inefficient provision of water and electricity supply on the island.
“We also appreciate the Prime Miinister’s concern to urgently resolve the long overdue persistent problematic issues surrounding water and electricity supply and the resulting hardship to the people.
“However, as much as providing long-term solutions to the water and electricity issues plaguing the people is long overdue, also equally important is the construction of the Sabah-Labuan bridge,” said the PBS Vice President.
Mak said the proposed bridge has remained the hope of the people of Labuan for a long time, not as a luxury but as basic infrastructure and connectivity between Labuan and mainland Sabah.
Therefore, he said the provision of this basic infrastructure should not be viewed, though important, solely from the perspective of economic returns but also as part of the Government’s social obligations to the people, which PBS Labuan believes will generate much positive returns and goodwill.
“This is the pulse of the people and will remain so,” he added.
