SIBU: The Opposition tactic of fabricating land issues during this 13th general election was to instigate the people to go against Barisan Nasional, said Resource Planning and Environment Minister, Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

At a rally held by the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) last Wednesday night, he said that the Opposition knew that it was the right time to play up land issues to stir up discontent and anger against Barisan.

Taking the example of the coveted video by Global Witness, he said it had been translated into most local dialects with the intention of stirring up the people’s sentiment.

“They were the plot of the Opposition election’s strategy as they could not find other grounds to discredit Barisan,” he said.

He said it was absurd of the Opposition to allege that the government stole land from the people.

“The Government has and will continue to carry out perimeter surveys on NCR land for the issuance of land titles to the rightful owners. Where the Government takes land for development purposes, it pays compensation to the people,” he said.

“Of late the Opposition has been trying to distort government policies to gain political mileage.”

To rectify the situation, he said it would be better for Barisan and government machinery to speak to the people so that they understand the truth better.

On the development of the state, he said over the last three years, it was given RM1.7bil for electricity RM1.7bil for water and RM2.5bil for roads as normal development grants tinder the National Key Result Areas.

“If Sarawak Barisan could maintain its two- third majority, the state would have RM32bil for its physical development. The state government also wants to maintain its dose relations hip with the Federal Government.” he said, then pointed out that since taking office some four years ago Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib had visited the state several times, so the rakyat at should be grateful and give him their votes in the coming election.

Past records had shown that Barisan had been responsible and had fulfilled its promises to the people.
Whereas, he alleged, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had once said that he wanted to abolish Mandarin from the Education System while DAP was interested in another direction such as abolishing the native customary rights land system.

“With such policies, the country would be in chaos and its sovereignty could also be at risk should the Opposition for the government,” he claimed.

On the Opposition’s manifesto, he said it would better if it was never created as it was only a fantasy and would never be fulfilled after the GE13.

(Source:  The Star, 19 April 2013)