KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan's claim it will appoint a Chinese Sabah finance minister and provide free education to all is just an attempt to fish for votes, says Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
PBRS chief information officer Datuk Fredie Sua said such promises made by Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in recent weeks were not practical and more of a desperate attempt to gain support ahead of the state election.
"Making this sort of grand promises... is no longer acceptable as it does not work," said Fredie, whose party is a Barisan Nasional component.
"The promise of a Chinese state finance minister might appeal to some voters, but it is important to focus on the competence and experience required, rather than merely on ethnicity.
"Voters today seek effective governance and performance rather than symbolic gestures," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 9).
He said the promise to fully fund all primary and secondary school students in Sabah was "ambitious but financially unsustainable" without a clear funding source as it could cost over RM250mil annually.
"With around 1,200 schools and approximately 514,070 students, assuming RM500 per student annually, that amounts to RM257.035mil each year.
"Without a realistic funding plan, such promises seem populist rather than feasible," he added.
Fredie also said Warisan's plan to restructure state-owned Yayasan Sabah to fund the free education agenda should not be carried out.
"Yayasan's commercial arm Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) paid a dividend of RM145mil this year, which reflects that the foundation is on sound financial footing," he said.
Any restructuring without considering long-term sustainability could harm essential services in Sabah, he added.
"Sabahans have become more discerning voters. They will not be swayed by sweet promises that lack a clear and feasible plan," he said, adding that political leaders should focus on making achievable promises.
"It is time for leaders to prioritise the sustainable future of Sabah and its people.
"The people of Sabah deserve governance that is transparent, accountable, and focused on long-term solutions rather than fleeting political gains," he added.
