MP SPEAKS | We are disgusted at Dr Mahathir Mohamad's recent insults against the people of Sabah and Sarawak when he tried to give excuses as to why Sabah and Sarawak had lagged behind Peninsular Malaysia's growth when he was prime minister.

Mahathir said one of the reasons was that Sabahans and Sarawakians were lazy and have the poor mentality of wanting to take the easy way out.

Mahathir, you are very wrong.

Sabahans and Sarawakians are survivors. We work as hard as anyone else and it is our culture to do our best for us and our families.

Our ethos, mentality and integrity cannot be questioned - especially by Mahathir who has taken our resources to build his glamour projects in Peninsular Malaysia such as the KLCC, Putrajaya and his Formula One race track while depriving us of our development funds during his time as prime minister.

Despite Mahathir's neglect, Sabah and Sarawak have continued to survive and develop proving that Sabahans and Sarawkians are not any less hardworking or having a poorer mentality than Mahathir's billionaire sons.

Mahathir neglecting Sabah and Sarawak during his 22 years in power is not something that anyone can deny - especially when he uses insulting excuses such as those recently in his bid to exact his personal vengeance against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

To add insult to injury, Mahathir also continues to justify the need for his 'Project IC' and has never and will never apologise for this chapter that has caused so many socio-economic problems in Sabah.

No one in Sabah and Sarawak should place his or her trust in Mahathir and those who continue to associate with him. Doing so means that you agree with Mahathir calling us lazy and having a poor mentality compared to the people in Malaya.

MADIUS TANGAU is member of Parliament for Tuaran, Sabah and president, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko).

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