KOTA KINABALU: Calls for the return of Labuan Federal Territory to Sabah should be set aside, allowing the Federal Government to focus on its development, says Labuan PKR chief Datuk Azman Abdin.
He urged everyone to cooperate and trust the federal government to manage and foster development for the benefit of the island.
"The Federal Government is working to improve Labuan's infrastructure, as it was previously somewhat neglected. This may have been due to insufficient attention from past governments.
"Under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anuar Ibrahim, every ministry receives monthly instructions to visit Labuan, hold programmes, and assess the needs of its people," said Azman, who is the Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, during a meeting with PKR leaders in Lahad Datu on Dec 10.
"I don't think it is necessary to call for the return of Labuan. It is an old issue. The federal government is taking care of redeveloping Labuan," he added.
Azman was responding to statements made by several Sabah leaders who requested that Labuan be returned to Sabah.
Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau had recently mentioned plans to table a motion in Parliament for Labuan's return to Sabah.
Labuan was handed over to the federal government by the state government during the Berjaya administration under then chief minister Tan Sri Mohd Harris Salleh.
The issue of returning the island remains a political topic among certain Sabah political parties.
