The Joint Chinese New Year Open House by Sabah Pakatan Rakyat in Kota Kinabalu today is most significant and historic, sending out a clear and unmistakable message that Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah will not repeat the mistakes of the 2008 general elections and we will ensure that the next general elections will see a one-to-one fight between the Pakatan Rakyat and the Barisan Nasional in Sabah.
With the SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee as our guest here, let me say that we will like to see the one-to-one fight with the Barisan Nasional in Sabah in the next general elections the most unique and important feature in the next Sabah general elections, embracing SAPP also.
The high-spirited overflowing capacity crowd at today’s Joint Pakatan Rakyat Chinese New Year Open House is more than a Chinese New Year reception. It is a potent sign of the changing and challenging times in Sabah and Malaysia – as it is as rousing and inspiring as any climax election rally.
Let us today from Kota Kinabalu raise a political whirlwind to bring about change in Sabah and Malaysia in the next general elections to elect a Pakatan Rakyat Chief Minister in Sabah and a Pakatan Rakyat Prime Minister in Putrajaya.
My visit to Kota Belud and Tuaran yesterday has left me with one abiding impression – how the dreams of Sabahans in forming Malaysia had been betrayed in the past five decades.
In Kota Belud, 800 students and 54 teachers of SMK Tambulion have been suffering daily from the worst and most disgraceful 8km road which covered them in dust, turning them into orang putih, an ordeal which will last another year or two, while Tuaran competes for a place in the Book of Records with a hospital for three decades without a bed!
Bapa Malaysia and Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman made the historic proposal for the formation of Malaysia comprising Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore at a speech to the Singapore Foreign Correspondents’ Club on 27th May 1961.
Sabah, together with Sarawak, will be commemorating their 50 years of Malaysian nationhood in another three years in 2013.
The people of Sabah were promised progress and development, at least to the level achieved by the Peninsular states.
Have these promises to Sabah been fulfilled in the past five decades? The answers must be a loud No.
From being a very rich state especially in terms of natural resources, the people of Sabah are now among the poorest in Malaysia with the worst poverty rate!
Where have all the wealth of Sabah gone to in the past five decades?
After nearly five decades, Sabah even lack the most basic infrastructures to be found in the rest of Malaysia like regular electricity supply, uninterrupted piped water and good roads and bridges.
This year, the people of Tawau celebrated Chinese New Year’s Eve in darkness because of power blackout – not a rare occurrence but a regular ordeal to the people of Tawau, Sandakan, Lahat Datuk and most parts of Sabah. The provision of piped water is in constant state of crisis. The state of the roads and bridges in Sabah are a scandal.
The people of Sabah are entitled to ask why with Sabah’s immense wealth, they cannot enjoy the basic infrastructures that are taken for granted in other states – why, for instance, Sabahans must suffer constant power black-outs which are unheard of in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Alor Star, Ipoh, Seremban, Malacca, Johore Bahru, Kuantan, Kota Bahru, Kuala Terengganu – even in Kuching, Sibu, Miri?
After Tunku Abdul Rahman’s historic proposal for the formation of Malaysia in May 1961, various consultations were conducted after various objections internally as well as from foreign powers, even involving the United Nations.
There was a Cobbold Commission which conducted a survey of the people in Sabah and Sarawak to ascertain the views on the formation of Malaysia.
I think there is no more meaningful manner for Sabah and Sarawak to mark their 50 years of Malaysian nationhood than to conduct a comprehensive review of the successes and failures in all aspects of development in these two states in the past five decades with feedback from the people Sabah and Sarawak.
For Sabah, if there cannot be a Royal Commission of Inquiry, then I suggest that Pakatan Rakyat conduct a commission of inquiry in all the 25 parliamentary and 60 state assembly seats in Sabah to allow Sabahans, regardless of race, religion or region to speak their minds on how the dreams and aspirations of Sabahans in Malaysia had been betrayed in the past five decades.
[Speech at Sabah Pakatan Rakyat Joint Chinese New Year Open House at Kin Kwok Chinese Secondary School Hall, Kota Kinabalu on Sunday, 28th February 2010.]
Tan TB has jumped ship, Zul Nortin and Wee CK next? BN would be able to gain 2/3 majority in Parliament soon.
Why hasn’t Anwar organized a “study tour” for all PR MPs to Taiwan as was done by BN? Bintulu Tiong would gladly foot the bill again.
///With the SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee as our guest here, let me say that we will like to see the one-to-one fight with the Barisan Nasional in Sabah in the next general elections the most unique and important feature in the next Sabah general elections, embracing SAPP also./// – YB Kit
A suggestion that Yong Teck Lee/SABAH Peoples Progressive Party (SAPP) accept overtures to now join Pakatan Rakyat???
The last time Sapp rejected joining PR when Yong complained, “We would have to still refer to Kuala Lumpur for decisions…Pakatan in KL would also decide who should be the chief minister of Sabah.”
Kit’s statement – “Let us today from Kota Kinabalu raise a political whirlwind to bring about change in Sabah and Malaysia in the next general elections to elect a Pakatan Rakyat Chief Minister in Sabah”.
To elect a Pakatan Rakyat Chief Minister in Sabah means Pakatan in KL would not decide who should be the chief minister of Sabah. It will be decided by election. Is Yong officially joining PR soon? He certainly can’t view his prospects of re-joining BN as bright after attending as special guest the “Joint Chinese New Year Open House by Sabah Pakatan Rakyat in Kota Kinabalu”!
From the last photo above, it appears that the attendees had segregated themselves along racial lines (see the first row). Had the racial polarisation disease caught hold in Sabah too?
The DUN of Sarawak is going to be dissolved sooner than later. What has PKR done to swing the voters to its favour? One has to bear in mind that the majority of the voters in Sarawak only rely on the ms media which are pro-BN. Failing to address that, than the dream to bring the desired changes in Sarawak is at best remains a dream.
So, act NOW !!!
Its a pretty good turnout it seems but its far from overwhelming. Yes the sentiment is going PR way – Sabahan feel that BN/UMNO are absentee bosses when they don’t have the right to be their bosses in the first place.
Sentiments for change need to pick up much more and into hard-core BN supporter areas. Until it has hard-core UMNO/BN supporters all scared and frenzy, then nothing is assured.
PR need a grassroot movement like Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) movement but it should more be like the Great Sioux War or Black Hills War. Sabah AND Sarawak need their Sitting Bulls and have a Musa Aman’s Last Stand..
Sabah’s biggest problem is the unchecked proliferation of foreigners being made citizens. Mamakthir realised some time ago that there is a risk of Sabah and Sarawak seceding from the federation, and it was also politically expedient for him to offer fellow Muslims from Mindanao and Kalimantan citizenship in Bolehland. He understood the psyche of the new citizens who would normally not want to rock the boat by voting against the government that gave them the new lease of life.
Original Malaysians know 50 years of abuse, new Malaysians from Mindanao and Kalimantan know that their lives are much better now from where they come from. I am pessimistic that Sabah can go the way of Selangor and Penang.
Bro Kit,
I’m glad that the DAP (& PR) are taking the Sabahans (& hopefully the Sarawakians) seriously.
The Rakyat still remember how DSAI told us that there was going to be a “mass exodus” of BN MP’s to the PR. Well from what we are seeing now, it seems the other way around! But that’s good, let’s get rid of the dead-wood & worthless scum from the PR. They will definately not be MPs after the next GE!
However, please don’t underestimate the BN!
Najib (& Rosmah!) is no “sleeping” Pak Lah!
Elected reps are paid millions to jump ship.
Senior reps are worth even more.
Anwar is worth billions
I wonder what is the price-tag for Lim Kit Siang ?
the best way forward is for Dap to join BN , day by day PKR disarray , no loyalty , no common ground , no vision ..
PR must count on Sabahans’ support no doubt. But please choose carefully those selected to stand as the candidates in the coming GE. It is so typical BN politicians who have lost their positions are now supporting PR. If you ask me, i will never trust them. These are scumbag politicians whose sole reason to participate in politics is to enjoy privileges and power, never for the betterment of Malaysia. Ask them what ideas they have for the well-being of Malaysia. Most of them haven’t got a clue.
chengho: “the best way forward is for Dap to join BN , day by day PKR disarray , no loyalty , no common ground , no vision ..”
The best way forward for DAP & PKR is to restore the original spirit of the 20 point memorandum for Sabah & the 18 point memorandum for Sarawak, which have been slowly but surely ignored by Umno-BN controlled ‘Malayan’ central government for its own gain at the expense of the Sabahans & Sarawakians…
Pakatan Rakyat must play an active role in getting to know the people of Sabah and Sarawak. Visits to these two states by Pakatan leaders must be made a regular feature as BN will always rely on the power of the mainstream media.
When the Sabahan and Sarawakian people are familiar with the Pakatan leaders, they will vote PR as by then BN leaders will become out of sight out of mind.
Therefore, personal and frequent visits are of utmost importance. People like to have their leaders visiting them and asking about their welfare as this shows a caring touch.
Tun Bak Kut Teh destroyed the harmony and economy of Sahah.
Illegal Mykad holders are now flocking to KL in search of employment.
Hi johnnypok,I’m relieved that illegal Mykad holders are flocking to KL in search of employment and failing which these dubious malaysians would steal ,rob and terrorise Tun Bak Kut Teh and all his cronies. He sows,he reaps.Sabahans have enough of these nonsense.Thanks God they move to west malaysia now.