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Friday, September 15, 2017

Restore Confidence by Honouring Sabah's Special Rights and Equal Partnership, Jeffrey Tells Najib

KOTA KINABALU - PM Najib’s visit to Sabah on the eve of Malaysia’s 54th anniversary would be meaningful ONLY if he could make actionable commitments to fulfil Sabah’s Special Rights and status as an equal partner in the Federation, urged Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan who is the Assemblyman for Bingkor cum President of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).

Such actionable commitment, Jeffrey said, would go a long way to restore confidence in the Borneo States.   

Otherwise, what is there to celebrate on Malaysia Day the following day, 16th September?

For the past 54 years, since their respective Independences and since the formation of Malaysia, the Borneo States, particularly Sabah, have suffered many losses and negative experiences including:-

-     the loss of Sabah’s political autonomy

-     the loss of revenues and financial autonomy

-     the loss of ownership of our oil and gas resources

-     and the loss of business and employment opportunities for our youths who now forced to flock to Malaya and Singapore for employment and lately to Australia to pluck fruits.

We have become poor, in fact the poorest State in Malaysia with 40% of the nation’s poor, and dependent despite our vast and rich resources, our strategic location and our huge economic potentials.

We have become a vassal State of Kuala Lumpur.    Over centralization and over federalization of Sabah, the unfair exploitation have made Sabahans feel colonized and marginalized.

Our security and control of our political franchise have been compromised by the deliberate mobilization and recruitment of illegal Muslim immigrants, knowing their claims as instant citizens and voters.

Sabahans feel betrayal by Malaya who promised many good things and made numerous assurances when proposing Malaysia and the .

Federal government for failing to honour these promises and assurances.

Sabah and Sarawak agreed to form Malaysia on certain conditions and with specific safeguards but these have been forgotten.

“What is there for us to celebrate? We are not happy.”

The least you, Mr. Prime Minister of Malaysia, could do now after 54 long suffering years is to fulfil those promises and assurances.

“You don’t even honour your commitments written in the Federal Constitution.”

The people in Sabah and Sarawak are restless. They are losing confidence in the Federation, some even wanting out of Malaysia, fueled by the Government’s inaction and non-compliances.

“As the current PM, show by your positive action and response that you can save Malaysia,” urged Dr. Jeffrey again.

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