Vote Awang Husaini for ‘direct channel’ to me, Anwar tells Petagas constituents

PUTATAN (Nov 27): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged voters in Petagas to support Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidate, Awang Husaini Sahari.

Calling Awang Husaini a “direct channel” to him, Anwar said that if the Petagas candidate wins in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election, he would have a direct line to the Prime Minister.

“Others will have to wait. He has the direct line. He knows that if there is a problem, I will come to help. The youths are here, the parents are here, and friends are here.

“So I am responsible. I can do it. That is why I ask Awang Husaini to work properly,” he said in his speech during the Karnival Harapan Urang Sabah Petagas held in front of the Petagas police station.

He also urged voters in Petagas to think only of Number 6 when casting their votes.

Anwar also said he is often asked by the people: “You were Prime Minister for a long time. What did you do?”

He said he does not mind such questions, but if people say: “You did nothing”, he said he would respond with: “Where did you read that?”

He reminded the people that Sabah and Malaysia remain peaceful thanks to the police and army.

“This state is peaceful. Malaysia is peaceful. There are many races, many colours, many religions. There are Chinese, Malays, Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Bugis. All are here. But this country is peaceful.

“Look at other countries. When there are many races and religions, they fight, as some people incite,” he said, while urging the people to be grateful.

He stressed that Malaysia’s future depends on maintaining peace, which is safeguarded by the police and armed forces.

Anwar said that when he became Prime Minister, one of his earliest priorities was to review their salaries. He found that civil servants — including the police and army — had not received a salary increase for 12 years.

Wanting them to work with greater dedication and integrity, he directed a study to address the issue.

He said that this year, after 12 years, their salaries had been increased, with higher ranks receiving a seven per cent increase and lower ranks receiving increases of up to 30 per cent.

“This is the highest civil service salary increase in Malaysia’s history. This is how we thank them and ask them to work, to guard the security of our country, to teach in schools or to work in hospitals,” he said.

Anwar pointed out that the current federal administration has raised the minimum wage from RM1,200 to RM1,700 nationwide, including in Sabah.

He acknowledged that the increase is still insufficient, saying it underscores the need to strengthen the economy and support lower-income groups.

He also emphasised the importance of having Awang Husaini as his representative in Petagas, noting that this would enable him to better channel federal assistance to the people, including those in Sabah.

At the same time, Anwar expressed gratitude for the cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

“There is cooperation, and we are grateful because in this cooperation, in some places it is Barisan Nasional, and in some places it is GRS. That shows there is an agreement to strengthen the Sabah government,” he said.

He added that although caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor is from GRS, he flew by helicopter to Sulaman to show his support for Hajiji as the candidate there.

“That is our way. If some do not agree, we discuss properly and politely, for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Anwar noted that the federal and Sabah governments are on good terms, adding that due to this cooperation, most of Sabah’s water issues can be resolved by next year.

“This is not a promise. Work has already started. God willing, it will be completed next year. This is not an election promise. This work started two years ago and will be completed next year,” he said.

On MA63, he said it is the federal government that can amend the laws. He added that the current federal government has already returned Sabah’s rights to manage its electricity.

He urged voters to ask past prime ministers who campaigned why these powers were not returned to Sabah earlier.

“The ministers before, in the Perikatan Nasional government, the state government — why didn’t it happen? That is the question.

“We have already handed it over. If you do not want to be grateful, that is fine,” he said.

After Sabah regained control over its electricity management, Hajiji informed the federal government that the state needed RM1.2 billion to expand electricity supply statewide.

Anwar said the federal government approved and released the funds, stressing that this was not an election pledge but an initiative already implemented.

He added that the federal administration has also continued major infrastructure projects, including the Pan Borneo Highway for Sabah and Sarawak, noting that the Sarawak portion is now close to completion.

He said that for Sabah to succeed, it must align with the federal government.

“If the federal government wants this whole country to progress, it must have good relations with the states. So whichever party wants to cooperate, we should cooperate,” he said.

Anwar also reminded that PH is contesting only 20 seats in Sabah.

“With 20 seats, you cannot become the government, so we will cooperate with the state government that the people of Sabah have chosen,” he said, adding that PH cannot produce a Chief Minister.

He described working with Hajiji as “easy”, noting that Hajiji does not ask for projects for himself but for the benefit of Sabah’s people.

“He asks for projects to increase benefits for the people of Sabah. That is why I am good with him. So I assume this cooperation can continue,” he said.

Anwar also questioned what an independent candidate could achieve if they win in Petagas.

“Who will they contact? People say an independent wins — who will they contact? This is the people’s problem. Who will help? They must remember that,” he said.

He urged voters to consider the future of the people, children in schools, and parents who are sick and need access to clinics.

Anwar Ibrahim Awang Husaini Sahari lead Petagas PH Sabah elections