It is KL the real culprit why there is SSKM, says veteran activist

PENAMPANG : A veteran political activist in Penampang said actually it was Kuala Lumpur or the Federal power the real culprit responsible for the surging calls for Sabah and Sarawak to exit the Federation.

Fredoline Edwin Lojingki, 74, in a statement issued here today said there would be no such calls and no SSKM (Sabah, Sarawak Keluar Malaysia) had the Federal power cared to listen to Sabah and Sarawak needs and aspiration all these years.

"Sabah and Sarawak combined is bigger than the whole Peninsula, of course we need more fund and attention. If the Federal leaders especially the successive Prime Ministers and their deputies had respected the autonomy of the two Borneo states, and if they have accorded sufficient allocation of development, there is no SSKM today.

"Even if SSKM was to surface, if we are well taken care off, no one would support such movement. But there must be strong reasons why Sabahans and Sarawakians are increasingly disillusioned and now starting to openly display frustrations with the situation," Lojingki said.

He suggested what the Federal Government and State Government needed to do urgently now is to reflect on themselves why there is so much movement to reclaim Sabah and Sarawak rightful place in Malaysia after 51 years in the Federation.

"I am already coming to 75 years old and i have seen hopes, real hopes in Sabah and Sarawak, dashed by the unco-operative and increasingly dominating Federal Government, sometimes displaying a worse than colonial tendencies in dealing with issues affecting Sabah and Sarawak.

"Do not bend our backbones to the breaking point. Enough of threats of "hasutan" and so forth. Sabah and Sarawak are sick of such threats. We call on Prime Minister, Najib Razak, and his deputy Muhyidin Yassin to take the bull by its horns by organising a summit with Sabah Chief Minister, Musa Aman and Sarawak Chief Minister, Adenan Satem, and thrash out all problems.         

Lojingki also alleged that threatening SSKM leader Doris Jones, with arrest would not solve any problems, on the other hand it would only aggravate the situation and drag in more anger and deeper feeling of suspicion and animosity.

"Take it from me an old man. You arrest Doris and let other crooks loose free in this country, that would cost the country a huge image. They can detain me for speaking up today but i have to speak up because i am an old man and i care what would happen to this country. It is already in deep shit, we need good heads to steer Malaysia, even former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said so recently," Lojingki added.