Shahrir For Greater Sabah And Sarawak Representation

Domestic Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad supports the view that Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in Sabah and Sarawak should be 'rewarded' for their splendid performance in the 12th general election.

He said their excellent performance, especially in terms of political support and contribution towards political stability should be taken into account.

"We have to take into account their political support and contribution to political stability, and thus they should be rewarded," Shahrir, who is also the member of parliament for Johor Baharu and an Umno Supreme Council member, told reporters Saturday.

Several leaders of BN component parties in Sarawak and Sabah, including Umno, felt that the number of ministers and deputy ministers from both the BN strongholds should be increased following their impressive performance in the general election on March 8.

Besides an increase in the number of full ministers and deputy ministers from the two states, they also wanted more important portfolios in the cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In the recent general election, the BN component parties in Sabah won 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats while the Sarawak BN won 30 of the 31 parliamentary seats contested. In the Prime Minister's new cabinet, Sabah has three full ministers while Sarawak has two.

Shahrir, however, is confident that the Prime Minister was capable of resolving the requests from the Sabah and Sarawak BN component parties. "The matter will be decided by the Prime Minister when he visits the two states," he said. (Bernama)

***** While they are not openly saying it, probably both the Sabah and Sarawak BN component parties want Umno semenanjung to give up a couple of the more important portfolios to reflect the new realities after the recent elections. Which is only fair. Umno cannot go on pretending that everything is hunky dory and it has not been weakened by the polls loss and can continue to lord it over the others. Such an attitude of denial will spell disaster for them.

Sacrifices have to be made and for a start Umno should give up a couple of the main portfolios like Home, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Trade and Industry and Education. Of course this won't happen and the 'will-they-or-won't-they-defect' sandiwara will go on.