Two Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders issued the same warning about the heavy price that Barisan Nasional will have to pay for the continued neglect, discrimination and marginalisation of Sabah, but is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak really listening?
These are extracts from Malaysiakini reports on the PBS and UPKO annual general meetings opened by Najib in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday:
(1) Neglect Sabah at your own peril, BN told
Joe Fernandez
Nov 10, 09
Former Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) hawk Bernard Giluk Dompok fears that if the Barisan Nasional may pay a heavy price if it continues to pay scant attention to important issues in Sabah.
He foresees the political tsunami that swept Peninsular Malaysia on March 8, 2008 being repeated in Sabah and Sarawak if local issues are not addressed urgently.
“It is not an easy task to identify the root causes of a problem,” said Dompok, who broke away from PBS in1994 to head United PasokMomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko).
Dompok, who is federal minister for plantation industries and commodities, is of the view that the more things seem to change in Sabah, the more they tend to remain the same.
“This brings the ruling coalition back to Square One each time, and is testing the people’s patience,” he said.
“It is not that voters have any particular love for the opposition. But they are frustrated with the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government in dealing with the issues brought to its attention.”
Dompok identified the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah and religious issues as among the many aspects underlining BN’s inability to change with the times.
“The perennial problem of illegal immigration has long been the issue in Sabah and the federal government has given a commitment to settle this issue,” said Dompok.
The people understand the obvious need for immigrant labour but the real issue, he said, is with foreigners with illegal Mykad who are now eligible to vote.
“This is the hardest for Sabahans to accept. There are also thousands who have sneaked in through the back door and acquired Malaysian personal documents.”
An idea of the scale of the problem can be discerned from recent figures released by the Home Ministry in Parliament. Of the 610,104 foreigners currently in Sabah, 317, 837 are illegals and 57,197 are considered refugees by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Upko chief reiterated that his party wants a royal commission of inquiry, a long-standing demand, into the real issues brought on by the presence of foreign labour in Sabah.
He said that although Upko is a small party – four MPs, six state assemblypersons and one senator – its role in propping up BN should not be underestimated.
“Upko is prepared to face difficulties and setbacks in elections in defence of a just cause. We will stand up against injustices. Upko is committed to ensuring a place for every citizen under the Malaysian sun.”
‘End the discrimination’
Dompok also said discrimination is rampant in religious matters.
“Several Christian churches which have brought in Bibles from Indonesia are still waiting for their Holy Books to be released to them. There are two court cases waiting to be heard with regard to the word ‘Allah’. These are unnecessary cases.”
Among other issues, Dompok highlighted the uncertain fate of the memorandum that he submitted to Najib in June on the problems of mission schools in Malaysia.
(2) Sabah BN’s fixed deposit but at a price
Joe Fernandez
November 8, 2009
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), the state’s oldest at 24 years, is in a festive mood again this year, notes party president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, “but it is also a time to call a spade, a spade”.
However, the bouquets came first, the brickbats very much later, in true Dusun (and Malay) tradition. ..
For starters, Pairin pointed out that many schools in the rural areas and the deep interior regions are in a dire state of neglect.
He added that Chinese and missionary schools needed help too and not just the government schools in the towns.
The result was that educational standards in Sabah were far below national standards and this was something that warranted the immediate and serious attention of the federal government.
“There are untold difficulties in raising educational standards in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Pairin in stressing on the theme that “our children are our treasure and our future”.
“This (education) is where nothing can be achieved without political will and the longterm commitment of the federal government.”
Pairin also dwelt at some length on the increasing public complaints about the state of the roads, power blackouts, water shortages, the less than satisfactory penetration of telecommunication services, and the ‘appalling’ public healthcare system. BMW XPo. 3 days only. Click for details.
Kota Kinabalu, for example, is still without a general hospital. Needless to say, he pointed out, all these issues obviously provide political ammunition for the opposition in the forthcoming general election.
No equal treatment
There’s the popular public perception that Sabah and Sarawak were not being equally treated as Peninsular Malaysia, noted Pairin.
For example, the poverty eradication programmes look good on paper but implementation has been lagging and downplays the key role of women.
“One way out of the poverty trap is through the contract farming system in the rural areas. But this is something that needs the understanding and support of the federal government.”
Elsewhere, he raised the burning question of the longstanding illegal immigrant menace in Sabah.
“It is clear than we need a once and for all solution to the problem of the illegal immigrants in Sabah. So far, there have been no serious and concrete actions taken to deal with the menace. Only piecemeal and temporary solutions have been taken so far,” he observed.
The PBS leader pointed out that hordes of illegal immigrants can be seen wandering around everywhere in Sabah, right before the eyes of the law, “as if they own the place.”
Most of the smarter Sabahans have already left Sabah for greener future abroad. Why would BN care if Sabah is being neglected?
…..but is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak really listening? (Kit)
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Najib may not want to do anything now. However, I bet one month before the 13th GE he will go round Sabah to give away cash. This has always been BN’s tactics (money politics) in any election or by-election.
Time for Sabahan to wake up.
All Kadazan parties should merge to form a single party.
UNITE with ONE voice ONE party ONE Sabah
Sabah belong to Sabahans / Kadazan
Sabahans and Sarawakians want equal rights with UMNO applying unity through diversity…through each race takes care of his own…through divide they rule…and applying double standards?
Malaysian Chinese and Indians are not treated as equals to UMNO Malays…who are you minority races..want equal rights with UMNO Malays?
As long as UMNO is a Malay party…do not dream.
Maybe cornered and last resort to save their skins….may alter their party’s rules to accept non muslims as members.
Even then..these gang of robbers and thieves have too much in stake…and depend so much on Malay votes..now putting out slogans to attract young first time voters.
Politicians co-operating with UMNO from Sabah and Sarawak maybe corrupted and can be bought……but the ordinary people with voting power…..cannot be bought…and UMNO have shown too much hypocracies…too much double standards…and much cover ups…on multi billion RM corruptions…too cunning and too cruel…yes UMNO political supporters are feeling insecured….and there is nothing they can do…except to do the right thing…get out of BN..and join PR.
Failing which…as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.come 13th GE….all will be voted out….unless UMNO can come out with hundreds of billions to buy voters..yet thousands cannot be bought…for they value dignity and their votes are priceless…just as their children and their love for the country.
UMNO should tell these goons “Kalau tidak suka, awak keluar dari sini!”
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Wonder why Brunei peg their currency with Singapore instead of fellow Muslim country like Malaysia?
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Since we are talking about broken promises here, I want to go back to the recent mis-annoucement by Najib of 9% GDP growth and US$17,000 per capita by 2020. Najib now retracts it to say its 6% which adds up to US$13,000 per capita not US$17,000.
My question is what happened to Mahathir’s promise of Vision 2020 of US$24,000 per capital?
This is the core of BN’s performnace. They say the will deliver 10, actually delivers 3 BUT they say they delivered 5 (depreciation of US$ over the next 10 years should add a bit back). And the 3 that is actually delivered, was not produced by them – they are just delivery men.
That is not the end of it!- They then steal 20% or 2/3 for themselves – for being deliverymen and unlike Fedex and DHL, they are never on time and the package is in bad shape..
Sabahan better understand the complicated math if they want to figure out what BN rule really mean..
“Pairin also dwelt at some length on the increasing public complaints about the state of the roads, power blackouts, water shortages, the less than satisfactory penetration of telecommunication services, and the ‘appalling’ public healthcare system.
Kota Kinabalu, for example, is still without a general hospital. Needless to say, he pointed out, all these issues obviously provide political ammunition for the opposition in the forthcoming general election. ”
And of course all of these boleh di solved in one and the same sweep by jibby & gang during the next election campaign. Just promise. Yes deliver one huge election promise. The goods may come on donkey backs but that is not important. Promise can be made immediately and needless to say, it would be made instantly and even boldly. That is what that matters.
Jibby & gang may for all we know even carry out a prolonged PR campaign to sing the promise to sabahans and sarawakians. Kerismuddin may again hug a few teary eyed elderly sabahan women for purposes only he would deem noble. The hope (and in fact the design) is that a promise, if is was repeated often enough would actually appear to have been fulfiled. Silly mind games of this variety still has its appeal you know. Well at least umno still has great faith in such games.
Play on then will ya! Play on.
“….They then steal 20% or 2/3 for themselves…”
Complicated maths indeed, Bigjoe !
There are many illegal immigrants who have obtained Malaysian Identification cards through some ‘unknown channel’ which in fact made them a ‘ Bumiputra’ and have ‘more rights and priviliges’ than 6th genaration Malaysians of etnic-Chinese/Indians…. Just imagine that….. some malaysians have less right that the ullegal immigrants !
That is the Umno/Barisan Nasional government’s version of justice …..
and off course these illegal immigrant-made Bumiputra privileged/1st class citizens seems to be benefited UMNO in wresting the state government from PBS many years ago!
You stand corrected, there were many indonesians given permanent residence and bumiputra status to boost the number of malays in the country.
this is the secret “malaysian plan” in view with increasing the number of malays in the country to sustain continuous previlleged autonomous rule over the country and the expense of hardworking other races. “MUNTAH”
Uncle Lim, with so much ammo provided by the BN government, it would be a waste if the PR don’t utilise them.
You know what despite the billiions invested by UMNO for their selfish race out of the 40 richest malaysians 37 are non malays(2 indians and 35 chinese). What a joke, UMNO wasted their investements, imagine if they invested equally, they won’t be any malays on the list.LOL
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/84/malaysia-09_Malaysias-Richest_Rank.html
correction, out of 40 top richest malaysians, 6 are malays, 3 indians and 31 are chinese. in the top 10 there are no malays at all.
These same problems have been told again and again for ages by the same leaders. And these same leaders have been supporting BN all these years despite the Federal Government lackadaisical attitude towards Sabah and Sarawak.
Many of these problems could have been attended to or resolved had these leaders supported Pakatan.
These guys have sold Sabah for personal gain and now they crow.
Siao lah, as if Umno n BN will worry abt de warning or threat
Who else can Sabahans support or turn to?
Where can they go?
No where but to the generous bossom of Umno n BN
Aiyah, don’t be gong-gong 1, let ppl know u r rich
Lots of Malays r super super rich n they r very smart too
Money hidden n parked under nominees n outside M’sia
Look n sound poor n continue 2 enjoy NEP mah
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091111182848/Article/index_html
So this was what TBH was subjected to before he died.
These Sabah leaders, where have you all been all these years? Are you saying you fellows have just woke up from your long slumber? All these years, you fellows are just clever in fighting and killing each others to secure your own positions and perks. Sabahans’ interests? What interest, please stop talking cok. I say, let kick all these asses out for good. They are no difference from MCA, MIC, Gerakan and now Makkal Mati.
Not many Malays are listed in top 40 richest Malaysians List. Reasons;
1. Many super rich Malays don’t pay taxes since they need to hide their ill gotten wealth.
2. Many of the super rich Malays have already gone hidding overseas to avoid future criminal procecution.
Before we leave this topic behind. Someone please explain to me why Sabahans and Sarawakians are NOT insulted by being called ‘Fixed Deposit’?
While the Federal Govt have provided funds to Sabah and Sarawak,. they have taken a big payout from oil and gas, timber, palm oil all along. Not to mention that without them, the BN govt would have toppled in the last election. Its likely given Sabah and Sarawak role, they are more like steady cash-cow that keeps on paying especially in the most crucial times.
Sabah and Sarawak is not a fixed deposit. Financially, they are more like the central bank that is there is bail them out when it really counts..
Najis paid sabah 1billion to stay loyal to the BN government and so at the moment he’s not botheredla.
Once again, BN has proven itself that money buys support. LOL