Najib delivering his speech during the opening of PBS’ 29th Annual Delegates’ Conference. Also seen are Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman ( fourth left) and Pairin (third right). — Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced yesterday that Petronas will launch a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme specifically for Sabah’s rural areas early next year.
He said more CSR programmes were needed in Sabah to ensure a more balanced development between urban and rural areas as well as to improve facilities and infrastructure in these areas.
“(Parti Bersatu Sabah president) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (in his speech at PBS’ annnual delegates conference) had said that although there was development in terms of schools and housing in Sabah’s rural areas, there are still people who are poor.
“It is our aim to help so that there is more development in Sabah in line with the development agenda in the peninsula,” he said when opening Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) 29th Annual Delegates’ Conference here yesterday.
“I also agree that CSR programmes be increased in Sabah especially in the rural areas. I will be coming to Sabah early next year to launch Petronas’ CSR programme for the rural areas) here,” he added.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister and state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Sabah BN secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Najib said the move was a commitment by the government to develop and help the people of Sabah, especially the poor.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said at present, the state government received five per cent in petroleum royalty or RM1 billion a year besides a 10 per cent stake in Petronas LNG Train 9 Sdn Bhd in Bintulu, Sarawak, which gave additional income to the people of Sabah.
“We understand the people of Sabah wanting more petroleum royalty but what is important is not the royalty but the income of the state.
“If you want, we can give out shares in the Sabah Ammonia-Urea Project (Samur), so that the people of Sabah can benefit from the petroleum investment,” he said.
On the issue of security, Najib said the government gave secuiruty in Sabah top priority and had approved an allocation of RM660 million to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESScom) for this purpose.
He said the federal government with the cooperation of Petronas was renovating some oil rigs off Sabah’s east coast, which would function as the first-line of defence, to have radar systems besides stationing navy personnel and other teams there as well as equipping the ESSCom with speed boats.
He also expressed his thanks to the security forces for combating cross-border crime on the east coast of Sabah recently, which was proof of the government’s stern action in the case. — Bernama