LABUAN: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Johnny Mositun fully supports the stand of PBS Labuan on the implementation of the proposed Labuan-Menumbok bridge.
Describing that the project is fully justified as it is an infrastructure that is much-needed to connect the island to the Sabah mainland, he said it should rightly be the obligation of the government to provide.
Mositun also said that the proposed bridge should not be viewed solely from an economic point of view but also from the social benefits it could bring to the people on both Labuan and mainland Sabah.
With the exorbitant cost of air fares between Labuan and Kota Kinabalu and vehicle-passenger ferry services, which do not operate on a 24-hour basis, the people from opposite sides of the channel are literally cut off from each other at least half the time.
“This is pitiful, especially when there are emergencies, including medical emergencies where patients need to be transferred from the Labuan hospital to Kota Kinabalu, which has far better medical facilities and professionals.
“Depriving the people of such basic needs is not only unfair but can even be considered an injustice,” said the former Deputy State Speaker at the PBS Labuan Annual General Meeting today.
At the same meeting, PBS Labuan Division Chief Datuk Peter Mak reiterated his call for the proposed Labuan-Menumbok bridge to be constructed.
Mak said that citing financial constraints as a reason for the bridge not being able to take off is not the best argument, as the people believe that Labuan generates sufficient revenues for the federal coffers all these years to support the project.
That is why PBS Labuan also calls for autonomy, including financial autonomy, to be given to the island to allow local stakeholders to meaningfully participate in the development of the island and seek real and pragmatic methods to realise the bridge.
Two motions were passed at the AGM.
One from both the Division and Youth Wing called for the proposed Labuan-Menumbok bridge project to be implemented.
The second motion called for the appointment of a Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly from PBS Labuan, as the Prime Minister has aptly called for the assistance and support of the Sabah state government in developing Labuan.
Therefore, such official links are vital.
Furthermore, there is precedent and merit in the call, as a PBS member from Labuan was appointed to the position during the PBS administration.
