|
Sabah's position in Malaysia
 Kota Kinabalu, July
5, 2010: Sabah Progressive Party
(SAPP) Supreme Councillor Dullie Marie today said the people of Sabah
should be enlightened on the truth about the formation of Malaysia.
He quoted Datuk Karim Ghani, a veteran politician,
who boldly stated "If Tunku had said you form Malaysia, you (Sabah) become
one of the 13 states ... I don't think the Sabah and Sarawak leaders would
have been so stupid to accept".
Dullie, who is also the Petagas CLC Chairman,
referred the veteran politician as one of those responsible for the
expansion of UMNO into Sabah but was surprised that he (Datuk Karim) was
demanding and questioning on the position of Sabah within Malaysia.
"This is only after about 20 years UMNO controlled
the political landscape of Sabah.
"Datuk Karim even urged the State government to pass
a resolution in the State Assembly to affirm Sabah's position, which I
doubt the State government will have the guts to do so," said Dullie.
"Another guilty party that owes us an explanation is
the British government.
"Sabah gained independence from being colonized by
the British on 31st August 1963 and two weeks later on 16th
September 1963, Sabah together with Sarawak, Brunei and Singapore were
invited by Malaya to form a nation called Malaysia.
"However, Brunei and Singapore later left the union,
thus remained Sabah and Sarawak.
"The original intention of the 20 points recognised
Sabah as one of the three entities (Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya) with its
purpose to safeguard the interests, rights and the autonomy of Sabah upon
entering the federation of Malaysia.
"We have witnessed how Sabah leaders were dethroned
by the federal government's 'invisible hands', watched theatrical acts by
our leaders and kowtowing to the powers of federal leaders.
"We faced the darkest moments in history when UMNO
expand its wings into Sabah and their divide and rule tactics worked well
to disunite the people based on religion and racial lines.
"I think most of us here would agree with Datuk Karim
who said the question about what happens to the 11 states under the
federation is their own business, and nothing to do with Sabah and
Sarawak.
"Actually most of the issues in Semenanjung do not
have any impact or negative effects politically in the State, but we have
to be aware that because of UMNO's presence in Sabah, we could face their
imported political culture of racial and religious discrimination into
Sabah.
"We all know that race and religion has been the
dominating issues in the Semenanjung which has never been an issue in
Sabah at all because Sabahans has been very much tolerant and
accommodative on these issues.
"The destiny of Sabah is in the hands of our people
and their will for political change to remain a proud respected Malaysian
Sabahan. |
