“Charge the Culprits Responsible for Issuing Fake ICs–Dr.Jeffrey”

Kota Kinabalu: "The Prime Minister, Home Minister, National Registration Department (NRD) and the Police are complicit and as guilty as the foreigners holding fake MyKads if they do not investigate further and charge the culprits responsible for issuing the fake Mykads,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief on the sudden discovery and increasing number of fake Mykads.

It is not mere coincidence or the mere negligence or slipshod error of a single officer in the NRD that there are so many fake MyKads discovered now.   More so, when these people are employed as security guards and are supposed to assist in keeping the peace and security, not commit more crimes.

There should be a full and proper investigation and back-tracking of the fake MyKads now seized from the on-going court cases,   There should be a long trial of evidence if proper forensic investigation are carried out that.  The evidence will eventually lead to the culprits responsible for the issuance of the fakeMyKads.

Citing the example of a native from Bingkor, Keningau, whose identity card was used as a fake MyKad by a foreigner, the native had reported the loss of his IC and was given a replacement card.  How is it possible for another MyKad to be issued or used by the foreigner who had committed the goldsmith shop robbery?

The authoritiescannot and should not leave the matter hanging after the charging and conviction of the foreigners holding the fake MyKads because that is not the end of the story.  There is every reason to investigate further and get to the root of the problem unless there is an ulterior motive to protect the culprits.   If not, the problem will continue recurring.

The culprits have committed treason and protecting the culprits is as guilty as treason itself.   The future and the well-being of all Malaysians are more important than protecting a small number of criminals no matter how their criminal activities have advanced the political interests of certain groups.

The Prime Minister, Home Minister, NRD and the Police must therefore act in the larger interest of the nation and the majority and not to protect the culprits and must show to the world that they are not in the banana republic of Malaysia.

If they are incompetent or not competent enough or do not possess the know-how or do not have the expertise to investigate further, the federal government should invite the US Federal Bureau of Investigation or Interpol to assist in the investigations.

Previously, the issue of illegals being issued fake MyKads was confined to Sabah.   Now that the problem has been exported to the Peninsula and causing havoc with serious crimes and murder, the PM should seize the opportunity to act and correct the mistakes of past leaders before the nation goes down the drain.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

02 November 2013

“Stamp Out Imported Malayan Hegemony – Dr. Jeffrey”

Kota Kinablau:   “The Sabah government must assert its authority and stamp out any attempt to impose imported Malayan hegemony over Sabah and her citizens”said Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in voicing his concerns over the sudden and unusual transfer of 7 non-Malay Sessions judges/magistratesto the Peninsular.

It is highly unusual that 7 Borneo native non-Muslim judges and magistrates are transferred in one go.  This transfer and consequential replacements with Malayans raise doubts and questions over the motives of the federal leaders in their treatment of Sabahans/Sarawakians.  

“Is this part of the Federal government’sMalayanization programme?” asked Dr. Jeffrey, “and isn’t their replacements contradictory with the Borneonization set out under the 20-Points and the Malaysia Agreement”.

The issue of transfers, Borneonization and rights of Sabahans/Sarawakians are important aspects of the special rights and privileges of Sabah and Sarawak agreed in the formation of Malaysia. 

“Is there no government in Sabah to look after Sabahans? Has the Sabah government been consulted? 

Is the Sabah government aware of this? Has the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak being consulted?” queried Dr. Jeffrey.

“It seems to me that the Federal government no longer respect thespecial rights and privileges of Sabah and Sarawak.” opined Dr. Jeffrey.

“I would like to know what is the official stand of the Sabah government.

More questions are raised when one considers the rumours and speculations circulating around over this transfer move by the federal judicial and legal service.

At the outset of the formation of Malaysia, it was agreed that there would be a High Court of Borneo, now known as the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak and the appointment of judicial officers and commissioners do not rest with the federal authorities.

While the lower courts officers come under the judicial and legal service commission, the federal government need to take cognizance that Sabah has its own set of local laws and customary laws and is not ruled by federal law alone.    The land laws take cognizance of local native customary rights and the local native customary laws and are alien to Malayans, as if it is from another world compared to Sabah.

In the dispensation of justice, Sabahans are entitled to and expect to be judged by qualified persons and knowledge of local laws and customs should a pre-requisite in Sabah. The rumours and speculations are adding fuel to the fire.  As it is, the Director of the Courts is a Muslim from Malaya.   So is the Chief Registrar of the Courts which is traditionally held by a Borneo native.

“Is the transfer move an attempt to prevent a local native from being promoted?   Is the move a pre-cursor to bring in another Muslim Malay from the Peninsula?”

Whatever the motive or objective of the transfer move and subsequent replacement exercise, the Sabah government and the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak need to look into the matter and assert their authority as Sabah and Sabahans expect them to do.

As aptly stated by the Chief Minister of Sarawak in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Sabah government must do likewise and stop any attempt to impose Malayan Muslim hegemony in Sabah.  There is no place in Sabah for such race and religion extremism.

Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

31 October 2013

“How Can MyKads Issued by NRD be Fakes? – Dr. Jeffrey”

Kota Kinablau:   “The federal government should admit that there is now a serious problem of identifying who is a genuine Malaysian and who is not becuase of the rampant unlawful issuance of MyKads to foreigners”said DatukDr.Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the arrest of 20 security guards with fake Mykads.

The abuses of the National Registration Department (NRD) facilities by certain political group to serve their political agenda has now reached national proportions that will eventually destroy this nation if left unresolved.

“I doubt whether these are really fake MyKads” questioned Dr. Jeffrey.

“How is it possible for the companies to recruit these people in the first place, if they didn’t have a genuine MyKad” he asked further.   

“Or do they (MyKads) become fakes only if they do something wrong.   Whether or not they are fakes these are likely to be the product of the Project IC in Sabah”.

The governmentcannot and should not continue to deny the existence of the so-called “Project IC” or whatever name they are called and there are evidences that the issuance of dubious MyKads are this happening.

People are now wondering what is going to happen to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) which has recently concluded hearings for this purpose?

How ironic it is for us to establish ESCOM/ESSZONE toprotect Sabah from external intrusion and invasion when the government also know that potential “intruders” are already running all over the Sabah previously and now all over Malaysia as “Malaysians” with MyKads given by the Malaysian government, hand delivered personally in many cases by Malaysian government officials and Umno leaders.

Judging from the population “explosion” and extraordinary increase in Sabah’s population from 1960 to 2010 compared to the rate of increase in the Peninsular and Sarawak, there could be as many as 1.5 million “Malaysians” with fake MyKads and part of the problem is now exported from Sabah to the Peninsula.   It is time for all genuine Malaysians to wake up to this problem and make the government responsible for their wrong-doings and resolve them.

Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

31 October 2013

Budget 2014 A Huge Disappointment From Sabah Perspective – Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: “The Budget 2014 must have been a huge disappointment to Tan Sri Pairin, PBS and many others in Sabah and clearly demonstrates the continuing mindset of the Prime Minister and his federal government,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in commenting on the Budget announcement.

The PM himself had whipped up expectations of  Sabahans especially the PBS delegates at their general assembly by asking  Sabahans to wait for Friday’s Budget announcement.

On a national level, the PM cum Finance Minister missed the opportunity to put the national economy on a stronger footing by announcing a balanced Budget or a reduction of the operating expenditure of RM217.7 billion while only RM46.5 billion was for development or to put in place concrete plans to boost the disposable incomes of the lower income groups.   

All three proposals would have brought about a better international credit rating and at the same time increase the well-being of the people especially the lower income groups.

Giving of handouts is not the right approach and there is no need to fish for votes for election season is over.  Such handouts will only lead to bigger expectations and eventually greater dependency,  especially among the rural poor. The government should have invested more money in boosting up the income earning capacity of the poor.

Giving of RM75 million in water tanks is no way to treat the rural voters who voted to retain the Umno/BN federal government.   If not for the 25 BN MPs in Sarawak, the Budget would have been presented by a different Finance Minister.

It would have been better to spend RM500 million on 20 water treatment plants of RM25 million each to provide clean piped water in rural Sarawak given the many big dams there.

Instead, some of the items will bring about an instantaneous price increase including withdrawal of sugar subsidies.  What was more laughable was the reason bordering on absurdity that the subsidy cut was required to reduce diabetes in Malaysians.   It is an undisputed medical fact that diabetes is not caused by sugar alone and a lower sugar intake alone does not reduce the diabetic rate. 

Back to Sabah, stop-gap measures is not going to resolve the systemic problems of higher costs of living and high unemployment.

An announcement of the much called for and much awaited abolishment of cabotage policy would have created a bigger impact in reduction of costs compared to the RM331 million to continue the price uniformity programme and subsidies including transport cost and RM30 million for an additional 60 Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) to help reduce the prices of daily necessities.

Both the federal and Sabah governments should undertake a study on the impact of the KRIM in Sabah as there are complaints that the KRIM has affected the small sundry and provision shops in Sabah and many will eventually close down.

An allocation of RM2 to RM3 billion development expenditure for Sabah and Sarawak is a slap on the status of the equal partnership of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.    

Part of this allocation, RM500 million is for upgrading of the Pan Borneo Highway.    This is a disgrace and totally unacceptable.   For the record, RM400 million was announced for the 33km. Sibu-Kapit road.   How far can RM500 million do for the Pan Borneo Highway?

Recently, the Sabah JKR Director lamented that due to the backlog or disregard of Sabah’s requests, RM2 billion was needed for urgent road repairs in Sabah and another RM700 million was needed to urgently repair and upgrade 65 bridges in Sabah.   Yet, there is not even a mention of any allocation in Budget 2014 and not the right way to treat Sabah which contributed 22 out of 25 MPs that help kept the Umno/BN federal government in power.

As for the GST, both the federal and Sabah governments need to re-assess the imposition of GST in Sabah. If the federal government can have implement 1-country 2-laws on the “Allah” issue which indirectly is a recognition of the 1-Country 2-System, the federal government can exempt Sabah and Sarawak from the GST scheduled in 2015, at least for 3-5 years

Whilst the PM continue to disregard the importance of Sabah and Sarawak and committing political hara-kiri in the process, it is high time for the Sabah and Sarawak governments to re-assess their support of the Umno/BN federal government.   

Perhaps, a withdrawal of support and change of the federal government may bring about a better 2015 Budget for Sabah and Sarawak and a shot in the arm for both local economies and a better outlook and way of life for Sabahans and Sarawakians.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

27 October 2013

Allah Issue: Beginning of the End of Malaysia Unless …- Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:    “It‘s not the Court of Appeal ruling but the non-action and continued policies of the Umno/BN rulingveness and reconciliation” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the Court decision to ban the The Herald from referring and using “Allah”.

The PM and his federal government needs to be reminded that the issue started with the then Home Minister in banning the reference to Allah arising from the Minister’s discretionary powers under the Printing Presses and Publications Act, 1984.   It was an unequivocal act of the ruling Umno/BN government.

From there, the downward spiral of race relations quickened with Umno’s political strategy to play the “race and religion” card to regain its Malay heartlands.   It shook the very foundation of the official“Malaysia – Truly Asia” and the PM’s own “1-Malaysia” rhetoric and hollow slogan.  

It is pretty obvious that the PM and his Umno-led federal government never meant to honour the “1-Malaysia” theme which is now discarded in favour of “Endless Possibilities”.   There is no other possibility other than a most probable break-up of Malaysia if the race and religion division is allowed to continue.

The Umno/BN federal government has forgotten that they are the government for all Malaysians and not only the Malays or only in the Peninsula.   They have forgotten that it is not the Federation of Malaya that they are ruling but the Federation of Malaysia where the founding fathers of Sabah and Sarawak were promised religious freedom.   

Religious freedom was so important that the natives in the interiors of Sabah erected a Stone Monument, known today as the Batu Sumpah in Keningau, to etch into perpetuity such freedom.  If not for these promises, there is no Malaysia today.

The use of “Allah” in the Borneo States, or even in neighbouring countries, pre-date the formation of the Federation of Malaya and the Federation of Malaysia.   There were no turmoil or any threat of racial disruption.   

On the contrary, in Sabah and Sarawak, it was a tranquillity of racial and religious harmony without the rhetoric of “1-Malaysia”.   There was no need for a Muslim-Malay NGO to declare that “Christians are our brothers and sisters” because in true life in Sabah and Sarawak, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives were Christians and Muslims and other religions.

The Umno/BN federal government have also forgotten that they are mere passers-by and trustees in their reign of government but think themselves so high and mighty to decide on banning and purportedly seeking exclusivity of the use when nowhere else in the world is any government claiming as such.

The rest of the BN component parties particularly those from Sabah and Sarawak are equally to be blamed for the quagmire and quicksand that they are now finding themselves to be in.   Some are quietly contemplating leaving the BN fold but are fearful not for their parties but for themselves with the police, anti-corruption, special branch,income tax, waiting to take the next flight out to arrest them.

The situation now calls for true leadership of the PM and the Umno-led federal government and politics of inclusiveness and reconciliation for all Malaysians.    The PM may be reluctant to act because of the pending Umno elections but he needs to remember that the country he is leading today is the Federation of Malaysia not the Islamic Federation of Malaysia.  

Perhaps, the PM should consider the calls of the Muslim-based NGO that the Malaysian Christian community can choose to move to any country if they cannot bear to accept the sovereignty of Islam.

Lest it be forgotten, no Christian Malaysian is questioning or challenging that Islam is the official religion of the Federation.  It is the treatment of the minority faiths and the actions and policies of the ruling government that is the root cause of marginalization and disenfranchisement.  In Sabah, it is sad that the natives are being pitted against each other due to differences in religion when no such problems arise.

If the PM accepts the reasoning of the Muslim NGO, it is time to start dis-engagement talks and allow Sabah and Sarawak to depart Malaysia and the Peninsula can revert back to Persekutuan Tanah Melayu by itself.   There is no point in retaining Sabah and Sarawak within the Federation of Malaysia when the ultra-Malays in Malaya keep trying to break it up and without any appropriate response or with the silent acquiescence from the federal government.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

15 October 2013

Be Proud and Stand United as Sabahans - Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: “The call by the Sabah Mufti to hasten the Malaynization of Muslim natives in Sabah is actually a blessing in disguise and an eye opener for Sabahans that they are being used and used over and over by the federal/Malaya authorities to divide and rule the people of Sabah and maintain the colonial regime of Malaya over Sabah” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR SABAH in weighing in on the issue of Malaynization of Sabahans.

“We need to look beyond the Mufti who while voicing his personal opinion was actually giving a reflection of the divide and rule policy of the federal racist regime and splitting further the already disunited Sabahans” added Dr. Jeffrey.

Sabahans are already being divided into Muslims and non-Muslims and being pitted against one another by the ruling Umno/BN government. No matter how or what the Chief Minister or the federal authorities denies it, it does not mean that the secret and covert operations to Malaynize and Islamize the natives of Sabah does not exist.  It exists in reality to the extent natives are recorded as Muslims and Malays in their Mykads although they are not and the authorities make it difficult to rectify such “mistakes”. 

In reality, Sabah has always been peaceful and harmonious with diverse multi-ethnic and multi-religious groups to the extent in many families, they would have multi-religious members.

The Malaynization call gives a window of opportunity for all Sabahans to stand-back and re-assess the divide and rule policies of the federal authorities.

All Sabahans need to take a united stand and assert ourselves and adopt “PROUD TO BE A SABAHAN” regardless of our ethnicity, race or religion” urged Dr. Jeffrey.   

We cannot allow Sabahans to be divided by ethnicity, race and religion and be used as mere pawns in the political power game by the Umno/BN regime so that they can continue to colonize and control Sabah. And at the same time the Umno/BN regime will continue to rape and plunder Sabah’s riches and wealth to finance Malaya’s development at the expense of Sabahans.

“Whether we are Bajau, Suluk, Dusun, Bisaya, Kedayan,Kadazan, Murut, Rungus, Sungei, Brunei,Chinese, Indian, Pakistani or the rest of the 32 plus ethnic groupings, we are all, first and foremost, Sabahans” stressed Dr. Jeffrey.

In this regard, Sabah has prevailed where Malaysia or 1-Malaysia has failed.Sabahans have always been one big and close family. We should not allow the importation of Malayan culture and policies to destroy the very fabric of harmonious multi-ethnic and multi-religious Sabah.

In the Peninsula, instead of nation-building, the Umno/Malay leaders are promoting racism and religious division and racial bigotry. Instead of promoting a Malaysian identity, everyone there is divided into Malay, Chinese, Indian or others. Sabahans are then caught and placed in the humiliating “Others” or “Lain-lain” category.

The term “Malay” is only a constitutional definition in the federal constitution and should not be used to eliminate the multi-ethnic groups in Sabah. An Indian or Pakistani Muslim may be constitutional Malay, he will always be an Indian or Pakistani Muslim by race and can be seen when they call themselves Malays but set up their own Indian Muslim associations.  Similarly, a Bajau or Dusun Muslim will not lose their race dignity and identity.

In Sabah, we must unite and maintain our common identity as SABAHANS and be proud to be one. We, Sabahans have every right to be proud of our Sabahans’ identity, language and culture. 

Sabah is the third biggest palm oil producer in the world, the second biggest oil and gas producer in Malaysia, the second biggest contributor to the federal treasury, yet Sabahans are the poorest Malaysians.

If we allow ourselves to be further divided and continue to be governed as a colony and 12th subservient State by UMNO/Malaya and if we fail to take charge of our own destiny and future and to control and manage our own resources, there is little hope in the future for all Sabahans” added Dr. Jeffrey.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman

STAR Sabah

13 October 2013

Legal and Moral Duty to Regain Sabah’s Oil - Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:    “It is now clear as daylight that it’s the legal duty and moral obligation of the Sabah government and every Sabah MP to take immediate steps and by all available means to regain Sabah’s oil ownership” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief after attending the Public Debate between Tan Sri Harris Salleh and Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee held at the Sabah Gold and Country Club on Friday.

The “explanation” of Harris that he had no choice but to sign the 1976 Oil Agreement with Petronas and receive 5% cash payment for Sabah’s oil as the federal government had stated that Sabah’s oil found off-shore belonged to the federal government and signing and getting 5% was better than getting nothing at all. 

Harris also stated that it was the federal government who prepared the Oil Agreement and he was under pressure to sign the Oil Agreement, partly due to rescue the Sabah government which was left with RM2 million in its kitty.

His story confirms and re-affirms the recent revelations by Tan Sri Majid Khan of the “lies” by the federal leaders in the 1970s that oil found off-shore Sabah belonged to the federal governmentand that it was up to the present-daySabahans to take the matter to court to determine the truthfulness and legitimacy of the federal statement.

Harris’ statement was made in the presence of the 300-strong crowd and the team of Special Branch officers who had recorded everything diligently for their Malayan political leaders. 

It is very apparent that the federal leaders’ assertion that Sabah’s oil found off-shore belonged to the federal government is false.  Nothing is further from the truth.  

Since 1954 the international boundary of Sabah (North Borneo then) was extended to include the area of the continental shelf which remained unchanged until Malaysia Day on 16.09.1963.Sabah’s international boundary is acknowledged in Article 1(3) of the Federal Constitution which provides that:-

1. (3) Subject to Clause (4), the territories of each of the Statesmentioned in Clause (2) are the territories comprised thereinimmediately before Malaysia Day.

This Sabah international boundary is even recognized today in the government official website:http://www.townplanning.sabah.gov.my/iczm/Reports/Coastal.

Pursuant to Section 24 of the Sabah Land Ordinance (Cap. 68), it is also clear as daylight that from December 1930, the oil and gas found on-shore or off-shore of Sabah belonged to Sabah.  

“Anyone that does not accept this fact and truth ought to take lessons in the law” stressed Dr. Jeffrey.

“Whatever mistakes of the past should be learnt and steps should be taken to rectify the past mistakes” advised Dr. Jeffrey.

In owning up to Sabah’s predicament on Sabah’s oil, Harris unequivocally advised that it was up to the Sabah lawmakers to make amends and raise the issue in Parliament to re-claim Sabah’s oil and not behave like past and present lawmakers who would put up both hands to support the federal government.   Harris further added that he was certain that if the matter was raised and reasonable, the federal government would agree to Sabah’s demands.

The idea was supported whole-heartedly by Datuk Yong Teck Lee, another former Chief Minister.  Datuk Yong then advised that due to the changes of the times and circumstances, the federal government was at its weakest and Sabah lawmakers as “kingmakers” should leverage on the thisweakness and use the “window of opportunity” to demand for Sabah’s oil and other rights.

For the future and benefit of each and every Sabahan, it has now become the legal duty and moral obligation of the Sabah government and each and every Sabah MP to take every available step to regain Sabah’s oil and gas ownership.   

The Sabah government needs to raise with the federal government the issue of Petronas returning Sabah’s oil and gas ownership and the Sabah MPs need to raise the matter in Parliament.   If they wish to take it further, they should get the Petronas Twin Towers renamed as the PETRONAS SABAH SARAWAK TWIN TOWERS.  

“There is no two ways about it, regain Sabah’s oil or condemn Sabah’s future generations to unwarranted poverty due to the oil revenues being siphoned off to Petronas and the federal government” concluded Dr. Jeffrey.

Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

12 October 2013