‘Save Sabah, if you want Malaysia’

By Raymond Tombung

Is Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak 'naturally' happy with
Umno-Barisan Nasional in Sabah?

KOTA KINABALU: If Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is even remotely committed to ensuring Malaysia remains with the Barisan Nasional coalition, then he must immediately restore the rights and autonomy of Sabah.

According to political maverick Dr Jeffrey Kitingan to save Sabah is to save Malaysia.

He said it was pointless talking about the being ‘committed’ to the future if the Borneo state continued to be ignored and sidelined.

“The Federation (of Malaysia) needs to stand as one, on the same standard, based on justice, equality and fairness if it hopes to survive.

“Sabahans are now more politically matured and are demanding that the legitimate rights and autonomy of Sabah that were promised by the founding fathers of Malaysia be restored.

“To give Sabahans their rights means to save Sabah, which is to save Malaysia, before it is too late.

“(As such) the Prime Minister should take immediate steps to restore the rights and autonomy of Sabah to save Sabah and to save Malaysia if he is genuinely and sincerely committed to the future of Malaysia” said Kitingan, the STAR Sabah chief in response to the reports that Najib is ‘committed to the future of Malaysia’.

He said it was no longer possible for the federal and state governments to continue to “fool the people”.

“The people now realise that they have been fooled and cheated for the last 48 years resulting in Sabah being the poorest state in Malaysia and being completely powerless politically.

“In addition, the revenues of Sabah of some RM22.7 billion in taxes in 2011 and its oil revenue of some RM15.0 billion in 2011 flowed out of Sabah.

“If the 20-Points had been implemented and honoured, all these RM37.7 billion would have been collected and remained in Sabah.

“Even an equal apportion will result in at least RM18.8 billion being retained for Sabah’s infrastructure and human capital development.”

Does Najib approve of Umno in Sabah?

Kitingan went a step further when he asked if Najib was trully happy with the way Umno-BN controlled Sabah.

“Is he naturally happy that Umno/BN is in complete control of Sabah? Does he (Najib) think Sabahans are happy with arrangement?

“What about the issue of the illegal immigrants being granted dubious MyKads and citizenships that have swarmed the state and overwhelmed the local natives?.

“What about the reports over the past several weeks of foreigners killing local natives as reported in the local press?

“Why has the Prime Minister not announced the formation of the RCI on the illegal immigrants issue that appears to have been approved by the Cabinet as hinted by several ministers?

“The unfair treatment of Sabah and the dilution of the state rights and autonomy and the lop-sided collection of oil revenue and other tax revenues from Sabah cannot be allowed to continue any longer.

“Sabahans are not demanding for additional rights or to take away the rights from other parties but to restore the rights and autonomy that have been lost since 1963,” he said adding that Sabah should not be treated as one of 13 unitary states.