Don’t Settle for Anything Less–Dr.Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: “The MPs from Sabah and Sarawak are kingmakers and can make or break the Umno/BN federal government.  PRS and SPDP must stand firm and seek their just entitlements in the federal Cabinet and not accept crumbs posts any longer,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the impending Cabinet reshuffle promised by PM Najib to announced anytime soon.

The Borneo States saved the Barisan Nasional from losing power in the recent general election and helped keep Najib as the Prime Minister by winning 47 parliamentary seats.  But it only takes 23 out of the 47 seats to change the federal government and for the PM to become the federal Opposition Leader. 

Hence, these MPs need to constantly remind the PM and the federal government that Sabah and Sarawak are crucial for its political survival and areequal partners to Malaya in the formation of Malaysia.

The times for giving “Menteri Jalan-jalan” to Borneo MPs just to fill up positions and appease Borneo-based parties are gone.  Neither is a chairmanship of a 1-Malaysia cow-dung committee acceptable.

Both PRS and SPDP have 10 MPs and giving them 1 minister and 2 deputies are not acceptable.   If MIC with 4 MPs are given 2 ministerial and 2 deputy posts, there is no reason not to give PRS and SPDP 4 full ministerial positions.

The Sarawak federal lawmakers should not just stop with ministerial positions.  Along with their ministerial responsibilities, there must be allocations and discretion and power to decide on projects in Sarawak to bring development in all aspects.  It is not rocket science or opposition rhetoric that both States lag far behind in development and progress compared to even rural Malaya.

Budget 2014 announced by the PM recently with a miserly RM2 billion allocations for Sabah and Sarawak including RM500 million for the Pan-Borneo Highway will not go far in speeding up development.

Most importantly, the Sarawak MPs must seek the restoration of the oil and gas ownership rights and getting only 5% with the other 95% going to Petronas and the federal government is no longer acceptable.    They need to support their Chief Minister who had voiced recently that Sarawak intends to seek a review of the oil payments due to Sarawak.

The Sarawak MPs will not be faulted if they just seek the oil and gas rights for Sarawak alone and leave the Sabah’s oil and gas issue to Sabah MPs.

While they are at it, they should extend their discussions with the PM to include the rights, privileges and autonomy of the Borneo States that were taken away or eroded since 1963.   These rights and privileges were promised and assured by the Malayan leaders including provisions in the Malaysia Agreement and the 20/18 Points.

For the record, the PM himself has in the run-up the GE-13 and during the Malaysia 50th anniversary celebrations reiterated that the 20-Points for Sabah were still relevant and that Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners in the formation of Malaysia.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, the Sarawak MPs should not just accept minor positions and seek their just entitlements for Sarawak and not settle for anything less.

Sabah and Sarawak are not demanding for more than their entitlements or taking away any entitlements or rights from other parties.The current realities of the political power wielded by the Borneo States can make things happen.  Just ask and it may be given, demand and it will be given by the PM to safeguard his position.

Who knows? If the Borneo States push hard enough, Sabah and Sarawak may just be booted out of Malaysia just like Singapore.

Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan

Chairman, STAR Sabah

05 November 2013

“Recall all ICs Issued in Sabah and Issue a new Sabah IC–Dr.Jeffrey”

Kota Kinabalu:    “There is now no other viable option available to the federal government but to recall all ICs issued in Sabahif the federal government is serious to overcome the fake ICs problem now growing menacingly in the Peninsula,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief on the sudden discovery and increasing number of fake Mykads issued in Sabah and used for crimes in the Peninsula.

The problem of fake MyKads and the weeding out of illegal holders of MyKads can be resolved easily if the federal government is serious to tackle the problem.

All that is need is for the National Registration Department (NRD) to produce the records of every birth certificate and identity card issued in Sabah from 16 September 1963 and verily them.   It may be long and tedious but it can be done and should be considered for the sake of national security.

It has to be remembered that there could be as many as 1.5 million fake MyKads out there purportedly issued to illegals in Sabah since the 1970s.

Considering the tragic murder of an innocent bank office cum mother of two young kids, the goldsmith shop robbery and the discovery of 20 security guards with fake MyKads, the potential threat to the nation is alarming and frightening.  They could be just the tip of the iceberg.

With due respect to the innocent victims and their families, these incidents are a blessing in disguise for Sabah as well as for the nation.   It has helped to capture the attention of the entire nation of the monster problem festering in Sabah all this while.

With the benefit of hindsight, the fake MyKad incidents and the unsurprising discoveries and revelations at the recently concluded RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah, one cannot help but point an accusing finger at the federal leaders and the NRD and the Election Commission for their dirty hands involvement.

“Who can we trust now?  Can the federal government and the federal agencies be relied upon to protect and safeguard the interests and safety of Sabahans” he queried.

The Sabah government, he said, should seriously consider taking drastic and urgent steps to ensure the better security of Sabah and its people by setting up a HOMELAND SECURITY MINISTRY and DEPARTMENT to complement and supplement the shortcomings of the federal agencies in protecting the people in Sabah.

“This is the only way to ensure that the security and sovereignty of Sabah are genuinely protected” stressed Dr. Jeffrey.

The rhetoric statements of the then de-facto Minister for Law and Home Minister that the illegal immigrants in Sabah do not pose a security risk are all hogwash to hoodwink the people.  It has also create a false sense of security to the people in the Peninsula but not in Sabah where the locals feel the fear and insecurity caused by the illegals many of whom are Umno members.

The 2010 national census showed that there are 889,770 legal and illegal foreigners in Sabah.

Looking at the failures of the federal government and the federal agencies, the Sabah government need to take full control of the State immigration and national registration departments to ensure the laws are implemented and to safeguard the sovereignty of Sabah as well as the security and well-being of all Sabahan Malaysians.

The Homeland Security Department can then issue a new Sabah IC for all genuine Sabahans.  This way, the federal government will not be able to issue MyKads to illegals as Sabahans.

If the federal government wish to continue issuing the dubious MyKads to illegals and foreigners, they can send all of them to stay in Putrajaya and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and other States in the Peninsula and they deal with the crime and social problems created by these fake MyKad holders.   The federal government need to be reminded that every Sabahan is a Malaysian but not every Malaysian is a Sabahan.


Datuk Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan
Chairman, STAR Sabah
03 November 2013

“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