Kota Kinabalu: “The Minister’s statement to threaten and intimidate Sabahans shows sheer arrogance of the highest order and a clear-cut abuse of power to lord over and control Sabahans to ensure Umno/Malaya’s dominance and colonization over Sabah” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the Minister’s statement to weed out protagonists over their claims for Sabah rights.
There is nothing criminal or wrong in any Sabahan/Sarawakian to seek the restoration of the rights, privileges and autonomy of the Borneo States that were taken away or eroded since 1963.
The Minister seems to have forgotten the facts of history that Sabah and Sarawak (with Singapore then) formed Malaysia in 1963 and were given various promises and assurances by the then Malayan leaders including the execution of the Malaysia Agreement to induce and entice the Borneo States to form Malaysia.
Malaysia never existed before 1963 and Malaysia would not have existed even today without Sabah and Sarawak.
Claims for the restoration of Sabah rights and autonomy do not mean cessation, being anti-Malaya/Peninsula or promoting hatred for other Malaysians. Claiming for Sabah rights is nothing more than the equivalent claim for Malayrights in the Peninsula.Claiming for these rights also does not mean “Sabah for Sabahans” or “Sarawak for Sarawakians”.
It is not even a shadow of a threat to the security and well-being of the nation although it may seem to be a political threat to the political powers that be. A political threat just like the political threat posed by Pakatan Rakyat to the ruling regime does not mean a threat to the nation or security of the nation. Such a political situation is but part and parcel of a democracy. However, the ruling regime does not see it that away and use every possible government machinery to bully, harass and intimidate the opposition.
The Minister should take a lesson from the Prime Minister and realize the realities of the political power wielded by the Borneo States and its people including the local BN leaders.
The people in the Borneo States have awakened from their slumber and now realize that their roles as kingmakers in determining the federal government in Putrajaya and along with it the God-given opportunity to voice and claim the restoration of the rights and autonomy of the Borneo States.
Sack the ministers and deputy ministers from Sabah and Sarawak today and immediately the ruling BN regime will find itself in the opposition with the Minister himself as the “shadow” minister in the opposition cabinet.
The claims for restoration of Sabah rights and autonomy are beyond pure harassment and threats by the ministers and the government machinery. The people of Sabah including Sabah Umno/BN leaders and supporters are already joining the band-wagon to seek the restoration of the Sabah rights.
Even the claims for the return of the oil rights and oil revenue, taken 95% by Petronas and the federal government with RM58 billion taken in 2012, can no longer be ignored. Promises of development, 1 or 2 “Tangki Biru 1-Malaysia”, a few pieces of zinc and timber, a few million here and there, a few hundred million of projects here and there, will no longer satisfy the people in Sabah and Sarawak. It will be more evident come the 14th general election.
The official slogan may be “Sabah Maju Jaya Dalam Malaysia” but the stark reality on the ground and in the kampungs is “Sabah Termiskin Dalam Malaysia”.
If the Minister wish to take action against the threats to the security and well-being of the nation, he should look into the statements and threats issued in the name of Malay rights, Ketuanan Melayu but which are totally unrelated, as well as the religious bigots that incite racial and religious hatred and are divisive to Malaysians.
The biggest threat to the security of the nation and the break-up of Malaysia is from the ruling government itself. The more the ruling government ignore and does not address the grievances of and the injustices inflicted on Sabahans and Sarawakians and implement the Malaysia Agreement, the 20/18 Points, the IGC Report and the recommendations of the Cobbold Commission, the louder will be the voice of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.
Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan
Chairman, STAR Sabah
23 September 2013
