DR JEFFREY PAYS TRIBUTE TO NAJIB AND ANWAR FOR MALAYSIA DAY

By Razlan Danial
KENINGAU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, paid tribute to both the Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak and Opposition Leader Datuk Anwar Ibrahim for making Malaysia Day finally a happening for the nation.

"Congratulations to Najib government, congratulations to Pakatan Rakyat and the Opposition for without their efforts, we would not have been able to attract the attention of the Federal Government to this cause," he said.


He said this in his speech on a Malaysia Day celebration organised by the Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) at Restoran Pelancongan Pedalaman in Keningau, Thursday.

Dr Jeffrey who is also Chairman of BHF, also congratulated the people as a whole for supporting and responding to the call for change.

"Indeed this is the reason BHF agreed to the Malaysia Day theme this year "Patriotisme Asas Ketahanan Negara".

"Because of the people's patriotism and loyalty to Malaysia, that historical facts should be correct, the Government of the day should live up to the leadership by example by ensuring that agreements and promises shall be honoured and kept," he said.

He said it was not enough just to make September 16 a public holiday but there should be various educational public awareness programmes, adding that the country should use September 16 to promote patriotism to Malaysians.

Dr Jeffrey said it is also time to review whether Tunku Abdul Rahman's assurances had been fulfilled.

"On autonomy, where is Sabah's autonomy when the Chief Minister is appointed by UMNO? What about the assurances that we are not to be just one of the 11 Malayan states?

"On promised benefit and prosperity, why is Sabah the second poorest state now? and what about the highest poverty? What about the illlegal immigrants being pampered by the Government?

"On security, where is security when so many illegal immigrants running around and the Abu Sayyaf could come in and out to kidnap our people," said the maverick politician.

At the end of his speech he paid glowing tribute to founding fathers for giving this generation the 'Batu Sumpah' to remind leaders of this nation of their obligation to the people and natives of Sabah.