My visit to Sabah last week has stirred a hornet’s nest.
Today, a Sabah daily – Daily Express – carried a report with the headline “IDS boss dismisses Kit Siang’s claim as nonsense – Many KDMs hold key posts” to respond to me, which is reproduced below:
Bernama also has a report, as follows:
March 03, 2010 16:16 PM
Kit Siang’s Claims That Kadazandusun Were Big Losers In Sabah Baseless – Malakun
KOTA KINABALU, March 3 (Bernama) — Sabah Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) deputy president Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun described a recent statement by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang that Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community were the biggest losers under Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sabah, as nonsense, baseless and malicious.
He said it was rather amusing for someone who had only stayed for a short duration in Sabah to claim knowledge of the local scenario and thus qualifying himself to comment on local issues which were far from the truth.
Malakun said the BN government in Sabah, under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, had been performing excellently, not only on matters concerning physical development but also on matters related to social development, particularly maintaining racial harmony among various ethnics here.
“Indeed the level of tolerance among the various races residing in Sabah has been acknowledged at large, as unique, if not the best,” he said here today.
He said a high level of tolerance was brought about by the fact that everyone knew discrimination based on racial background was not an issue in Sabah.
As a matter of fact, the Chief Minister himself is half KDM. His mother is a Dusun from the Gunsanad family originating from the Sundang and Sodomon family tree.
“As such, this provides more reasons for the Chief Minister to be extra concerned with the well-being of KDM,” he added.
Malakun said a large number of Kadazandusun in Sabah were holding important positions in the government sector.
“In fact, two KDM are holding very important ministerial posts in the Federal Government. KDM are also well represented in the state cabinet.
“Out of the 10 ministries under the state government, four permanent secretary posts are held by the KDM community. In terms of scholarship, ever since under USNO, KDM have been among major recipients of state scholarships,” he said.
Malakun said both the state and Federal governments were continuously taking steps to improve the livelihood of the people in Sabah “no matter who they are”.
“The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), is one good example of the government’s seriousness in trying to eradicate poverty in Sabah.
“Various programmes are being outlined under the SDC by the government to uplift the living standards of the poor and to bring them out from the poverty cycle,” he said.
Citing agropolitan as a good example of poverty eradication program under the SDC, he said the program was focusing on areas in Tongod, Pitas, Nabawan, Keningau, Kemabong and Beluran.
“These are areas with KDM majority. Looking at these facts, does Kit Siang really has an issue to raise on the KDM in Sabah?,” he asked.
Malakun said it was clear that Kit Siang’s statement was made on purpose to divert attention on major political woes currently faced by the opposition.
— BERNAMA
I offer this blog to the people of Sabah and Malaysia to give their views on this issue – which should be widened to whether the Kadazan natives are the biggest losers in Sabah.