UMNO need Sabah and Sarawak to be Federal Government

by Luke Rintod HERE

KOTA KINABALU: UK-based NGO, Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia (BoPiMaFo) believes the only reason Malaya based parties are desperate to retain Sabah and ‘invade’ Sarawak is so that they can continue to decide which Umno leader would become the Prime Minister.

Daniel Jambun, who leads BoPiMaFo, said: “Umno wanted to go to Sarawak but its dream was shattered not because of Sarawak BN parties’ refusal but because of the people.

“If Umno spreads its wings to Sarawak, it would empower Sabah and Sarawak to decide who would be Umno president and eventually Prime Minister as both combined number of delegates from East Malaysia would have been the biggest to Umno’s annual assembly.

“Obviously Malayan parties come to East Malaysian states not to lose power and control. But of course they did not tell you this was the reason.”

Jambun, who is Sabah State Reform Party (STAR) deputy chairman, has consistently said that Sabah and Sarawak are best left to local parties to represent and be part of the Federal Government, something that Malayan leaders did not like as in the various cases.

Jambun was alluding to the encroachment of Malayan based parties on both sides of the divide. The BN coalition has Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC in Sabah while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition has DAP, PKR and PAS.

Sabah is administered by Umno-led BN in a coalition with local parties PBS, LDP, UPKO and PBRS. Since Umno’s entry, the state has seen a steady decline in its socio-economic status.

Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan has also now muscled into Sabah and is seeking to entrench itself here politically.

Both Malaya based parties, claims Jambun have little interest in ensuring the rights and dignity of Sabahans.

‘Control, exploit, hegemonise’

Throwing punches at Pakatan, Jambun described the coalition as “greedy” for wanting to contest all seats in Borneo.

“History has shown us that (the) majority of Sabahans and Sarawakians have actually refused Malaya political parties.

“They believe the leaders from both sides have always wanted to control, exploit and hegemonise Sabahans and Sarawakians. And because of their (Malayan) uncontrolled greed, they will do anything to deny the people their right and will bulldoze their way in.

“Look at Umno, which many of the now opposition PKR leaders were very much part of. Umno even changed the election boundaries to facilitate their control in Sabah.

“To be frank, wasn’t PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim at that time Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s right-hand man? Do you think he has changed?

“If Anwar is a changed man now, why is it he is still copying Umno’s greed, even looking down, if not trying to dictate to fellow state opposition leaders?” asked Jambun.

Jambun was referring to Pakatan’s insistence on contesting in all 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah and 31 in Sarawak.

In July last year BN defectors Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing added a ‘local flavour’ to Pakatan. Lajim, a former federal level Umno deputy minister is Beaufort MP, while Bumburing is Tuaran MP and ex-deputy president of Sabah BN partner, Upko.

Both have since set up their own political platforms and pledged allegiance to Anwar. Anwar has since assigned Lajim to secure the Muslim votes and Bumburing to look into the native KadazanDusun Murut votes.

Greedy PKR-Pakatan

This has left local opposition STAR and Sabah Progressive People Party (SAPP) in a ‘quandary’.

Jambun said: “A deeper look at things and the finger would point to the Malaya-based political parties that are truly splitting the votes in Sabah and Sarawak as they are greedy and want to wallop even the smallest number of seats in Sabah and Sarawak.

“When Malaysia Federation was formed in 1963, it was an agreement that our seats, both state and parliamentary seats in our own state should be our safeguard and that those representatives elected are to be Sabah and Sarawak’s genuine voices especially in Parliament.

“But what sort of safeguards can Sabah and Sarawak have if even our small number of seats are being taken by parties from outside East Malaysia? It is obvious that these Sabahans reps would listen to their leaders who are from peninsula. Just look at Umno reps from Sabah.

“We want to push away Umno from Sabah but why must these Malayan and their Sabahan proxies and stooges here insist we replace Umno with yet another Malayan political party?

“Are the 165 parliamentary seats (out of 222) lumped together in the whole of Malaya still not good enough for PKR and PR (Pakatan) to contest that they must contest Sabah’s mere 25 and Sarawak’s 31 parliamentary seats ?”

“Do we really want a change that is real here (Sabah)?

Opposition too weak to take on Sabah BN, says analyst

Lu Wei Hoong of Malaysiakini 12:18PM Oct 25, 2012

Pakatan Rakyat is not strong enough to take on the BN in Sabah despite the peninsular-based opposition coalition having gradually made inroads into the East Malaysian state, a political pundit argues.

Speaking at a forum in Kuala Lumpur last night, the political scientist, who requested that his name not be published, said the Pakatan Rakyat parties did not cooperate well with the Sabah local parties.

"I think (for) the opposition to deliver a strong blow to the BN in Sabah, it must unite and form a very strong opposition coalition.

"(However) I don't think it is happening now," he added at the forum held to mark the launching of a book, ‘Democracy at stake? Examining 16 By-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011' at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

The academician said possible multi-cornered fights among the opposition parties would reduce any winning chance the opposition could have.

This problem might be solved if PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim could persuade Sabah strongmen such as Jeffrey Kitingan to stick with Pakatan.

However, he felt it would be tough for Pakatan to persuade independent-minded people like Jeffrey (right).

"Jeffrey said his party (State Reform Party) wants to contest all the 60 Sabah state seats and four to five Kadasan Dusun majority (parliamentary) seats," the analyst told the audience of about 70 people.

If the State Reform Party went ahead with Jeffrey's plan, this would adversely affect seat allocations among opposition parties seeking one-to-one battles with the BN.

‘Sabah BN turncoats not influential'

The political scientist said the defections by two BN parliamentarians in Sabah recently would not give Pakatan any extra advantage.

"Anwar is trying to use Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin, but I don't think their influence goes beyond Tuaran."

He advised Anwar to pay more attention to local issues to increase Pakatan's chances of winning over Sabah.

In August, Tuaran MP Bumburing and Beaufort MP Lajim quit BN to join Pakatan.

Meanwhile, Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat (left) argued that Umno needed to be prepared to accept defeat in the next general election.

"You (Umno elites) shouldn't aim for no defeat, you should aim for the chance of coming back after defeat," Wong said.

He warned that Umno would lose its credibility, and its legitimacy to win back power in the future, should it continue to practise election fraud.

Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Wong said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was aiming to wrest back at least 141 parliamentary seats and the Selangor government.

Najib needed at least 141 parliamentary seats, he added, to show that he could deliver better than former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he led Umno, which won only 140 seats in the 2008 general election.

However, Wong argued, Najib was not likely to achieve the targets he hoped for and could even lose his premiership as a result of internal pressure within Umno.

The other panellists who spoke were independent researcher Mavis Puthucheary and HarakahDaily.net editor Zulkifli Sulong. Merdeka Centre programme director Ibrahim Suffian moderated the session.

Sabah rights: ‘Stop lying, Najib’

By Calvin Kabaron of Free Malaysia Today

| October 16, 2012

          

Najib Tun Razak should learn to view Malaysia and the federal government from the perspective of Sabahans and not as an Umno leader, says opposition STAR.

 

 

KOTA KINABALU: The State Reform Party (STAR) is stunned by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s claim that Sabah’s rights and autonomy have not been usurped by the federal government and that they remain intact.

 

The party’s Sabah chapter chairman, Jeffrey Kitingan, said the prime minister was either ignorant or being crafty by claiming Sabah’s rights had not been diminished in any way after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

 

“How can the prime minister say that Sabah’s rights have not been taken away when it is very clear that from its position as an equal partner with Malaya in 1963, Sabah is now downgraded to become the 12th state and its Umno-BN state leaders are subservient to Umno-KL leaders?” asked Jeffrey.

 

He said that it was the manoeuvring of peninsula-based Umno and federal leaders that had resulted in Sabah being made a de facto colony of Malaya and Umno-BN leaders treating Sabah as their “fixed deposit” and treating Sabahans with disrespect.

 

Sabahans, he said, lost their political independence and rights when Umno manoeuvred itself into Sabah and misguided Usno (United Sabah National Organisation) into handing over power to its proxies and stooges.

 

“Sabahans further lost their rights to determine their own future through the evil ‘Project IC’ during [former premier] Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration which also resulted in illegal immigrants being given ICs and voting rights.

 

“The reverse ethnic cleansing through these illegal immigrants has affected true Sabahans in every aspect and yet the federal government has been dragging its feet on the RCI [Royal Commission of Inquiry].

 

“To top it all, under Umno-BN’s rule, Sabah is now the poorest state in Malaysia which accounts for 40% of all the poor in Malaysia,” he said, adding that the federal government had also taken over all revenue collection in the state.

 

“What is RM32 million for schools and RM132 million for infrastructures for Sabah when Sabah contributes about RM15 billion oil revenue annually to Petronas and for 2011, the federal government collected about RM22.7 billion in federal taxes and revenue from Sabah excluding other collections?

 

“The Immigration Department alone collected about RM200 million from Sabah for 2011. The federal government took away the right of the Sabah state [government] to collect its own revenue when Point 11 of the 20-Point Agreement was not implemented.

 

“Point 11 reads: ‘Sabah [North Borneo] should have control of its own finance, development funds and tariffs’,” he said.

 

Borneonise civil service

 

According to him, the revenue from Sabah’s oil and gas has been unfairly taken from Sabah when the prime minister’s father, Abdul Razak Hussein, in 1975 signed an order granting ownership of Sabah’s oil and gas resources to Petronas.

 

“If the prime minister means what he says, he should immediately rescind the vesting order and hand back the oil and gas resources to Sabah.

 

“Since 1975, Sabah’s oil revenue has been channelled to Malaya via Petronas to develop the Malayan states at the expense of Sabah.

 

“Recently, this was acknowledged by Najib himself in Sarawak that for 49 years, Sabah and Sarawak had contributed their revenues towards the development of Malaya,” he said.

 

According to Jeffrey, who gained a doctorate at the prestigious Harvard University, it was also well known and agreed at the outset of the formation of Malaysia in 1963 that “Borneonisation” of the Sabah civil service would take place immediately, but this was not honoured and civil servants from the peninsula, some not even experienced or qualified for the job, took over senior posts in government after the British left.

 

He said that even now, after 49 years, it was clear that the federal government had become the new colonial master and taken over almost all the key positions in the federal civil service in Sabah.

 

“The problem is compounded by the duplicating roles of federal agencies in Sabah to the extent that they usurped the roles of Sabah agencies. These federal agencies have even deemed it appropriate to import their staff, even junior staff, from the peninsula and marginalised Sabahans.

 

“It is all part of a devious scheme to control and make Sabah a colony of Malaya and Umno,” he said.

 

Manipulations by Mahathir

 

Jeffrey argued that the situation became worse for Sabah from 1965 when Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia.

 

The federal government, he said, through various schemes, manipulated the situation to secure 75% control of the federal Parliament when it was agreed in 1963 that Malaya would not have more than 65% of the parliamentary seats as a constitutional safeguard for Sabah and Sarawak.

 

The realignment of power in 1965 allowed the Umno federal government to make Sabah the 12th state in the nation and subservient to Malaya, he added.

 

“Even during Usno’s early days, Umno sent its advisers; it could not be said that whatever Usno did was purely its own doing.

 

“During Berjaya’s tenure, Sabah lost Labuan and its oil revenue. The then chief minister [Harris Salleh] seemed more interested in trying to please the federal government so as to achieve the political ambition of overthrowing Mustapha [Harun].

 

“During the PBS era, Mahathir showed his dictatorial side in sidelining the PBS government which was democratically elected by the people and even stopped Pairin [Kitingan] from being sworn in as the legitimate chief minister.

 

“Mahathir also induced the jumping of PBS elected representatives that caused the downfall of the PBS government and used his dictatorial powers to put his opponents in jail under the draconian ISA,” said Jeffrey, the younger brother of current deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin.

 

He reminded Najib that the rotation system of the chief minister was then introduced against the Sabah constitution to induce and later trap the other BN leaders while, at the same time, gerrymandering the electoral boundaries to create additional seats for Umno and make it the single largest Barisan Nasional coalition component with 32 out of 60 seats.

 

“With the Project IC then at its height, the takeover of Sabah by the federal Umno government was complete.

 

“Why is the prime minister turning a blind eye to these testimonies of loss of Sabah’s rights?” he asked.

 

No religious freedom

 

Jeffrey also touched on the loss of religious freedom in Sabah.

 

Jeffrey, who was jailed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Mahathir’s time for speaking up on Sabah’s rights, also reminded Najib and Umno that freedom of religion was guaranteed by Point No 1 of the 20-Point Agreement as well as the Batu Sumpah (Oath Stone) in Keningau.

 

“The fact that Sabahans today no longer enjoy freedom of religion clearly suggests that they have been robbed of this right.

 

“In addition, there is a steady creeping in of the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ policy where new imported Malays are accorded better rights than the original indigenous natives, many of whom are Muslims,” he said.

 

Jeffrey also said that if Najib is correct in his claim that Sabah had received development and progress similar to its counterparts in Malaya, then surely Sabah would be one of the richest states in Malaysia, if not the richest.

 

“If the prime ministere had only opened his eyes to his surroundings when officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Native Court Training Institute building and the opening of the bridge at Padang Pagansakan in Penampang, he would notice that the development of the surrounding areas including roads, bridges and other infrastructure is not on par with the peninsular states.

 

“And that is only 10 miles from Kota Kinabalu city centre. He should then imagine how much below par is the development status in the other areas, especially in the interiors like far-flung Pensiangan,” he said.

 

“Or better still, he should travel by road instead of helicopter to see for himself the status of development in Sabah,” Jeffrey added, taking a swipe at Najib for travelling around the state by air.

 

Malaysia is not 55

 

Touching on the federal stand that Malaysia is 55 years old, Jeffrey said by insisting Malaysia is 55 years old now and not 49, the federal government is propagating the worst lie to the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole.

 

“What is the motive of the Umno federal government in manipulating the facts of history? The prime minister should restore Sabah’s rights and not lie anymore.

 

“He should learn how to view Malaysia and the federal government from the perspective of Sabahans and not just from the top as an Umno leader with a Malayan Agenda,” he said.

 

“Sabah has lost a lot since agreeing to form Malaysia in 1963 and suffered a great deal due to the manipulations and policies of the Umno federal government in the name of national integration; the federal government of Malaya has ruled the state in the guise of the federal government of Malaysia.

 

“There was never a genuine partnership for Sabah in Malaysia.

 

“The federal government has disrespected the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the autonomy and rights of Sabah. After 49 years of an unequal partnership and treatment, Sabahans are now clamouring for the restoration of their rights and autonomy,” Jeffrey said, adding that the prime minister and the federal government should stop treating Sabahans as fools.

 

Taking a swipe at Najib’s Budget 2013, he said it was nothing to shout about for Sabahans. “Sabahans deserve more than 1Malaysia water tanks and BRIMs.

 

“What the prime minister can and should do, if he truly wants to make a difference… is to restore the rights and autonomy of Sabah and the status of Sabah as an equal partner to Malaya… and to treat Sabahans with respect and dignity,” he said

Sabah BN will win seats ‘by default’

By Luke Rintod  HERE

| October 11, 2012

Some analysts in Sabah believe that as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

ANALYSIS

 

 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to see multi-cornered fights in most areas in the coming general election. This means that the ruling Barisan Nasional may have the edge.

 

At this stage, observers can conclude that the opposition parties in Sabah are giving Umno-led BN a “free advantage” to retain a majority of the Sabah seats.

 

At stake in Sabah are 26 parliamentary seats, including one in Labuan, and 60 state seats.

Sabah chairman of State Reform Party (STAR), Jeffrey Kitingan, said recently that his party is all but ready to announce the seats – parliamentary and state – it will contest.

 

“We can announce the seats shortly,” he said confidently to reporters when asked how many seats STAR will contest in Sabah.

 

Jeffrey in the past had talked about contesting in more than half of the 60 state seats. He had even at one stage indicated that STAR may go the whole hog and contest in all 26 parliamentary and 60 state seats.

 

But reality seems to have set in.

 

Asked if STAR had reconciled overlapping claims on seats with other opposition parties – Pakatan Rakyat and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) – Jeffrey refused to divulge further.

“Wait for another day,” he said.

 

He also reiterated that STAR had received the green light from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in Sabah in the coming polls.

 

STAR list ready

 

The Sarawak-based STAR’s eligibility to stand in Sabah under its symbol has attracted much speculation even though the party had done so in Kota Marudu years back.

 

STAR’s Sabah chapter secretary, Guandee Kohoi, said that EC Sabah director, Idrus Ismail, in a meeting with Jeffrey, himself and Edward Linggu (STAR information chief) had given them assurance that STAR indeed could field candidates in Sabah.

 

“STAR is already on the latest list of political parties EC gave us. Even the name of STAR has been amended and does not state the word Sarawak anymore but just State Reform Party.

 

“The latest list also contains the re-named party, Sarawak Worker’s Party’ [SWP], which was previously Sabah-based Sabah People’s Front [SPF],” Kohoi said.

 

Meanwhile, the number of STAR’s potential candidates has been growing steadily and in many places, they are already clear frontrunners.

 

At least half a dozen graduate teachers aligned to STAR have so far resigned from their posts, and a few other civil servants are said to be set to retire early to prepare to be the candidates.

 

STAR Youth leader, Hasmin Azroy Abdulah, is among the teachers who have resigned. He could be STAR’s candidate for Tenom parliamentary seat or one of the state seats in the constituency.

 

Another teacher who has also resigned is Maklin Masiau. He is poised to be STAR’s candidate for poverty-stricken Pitas state seat in the north. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is also eyeing Pitas.

 

Pinus Gondili is another teacher who quit his job and is slated to contest under STAR in Labuk. He is certain to fight incumbent Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president, Michael Asang, after PBS recently confirmed Asang would be retained.

 

PKR is also eyeing Labuk, making it one of those many seats in Sabah that are likely to see four-cornered fights between BN and the opposition trio – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP.

 

Cunning SAPP

 

Meanwhile, both STAR and SAPP leaders are saying publicly, at least, that they would not want to face each other where their respective “big guns” are contesting.

 

That would mean SAPP would not put up a candidate against Jeffrey and his right-hand men. But there is a big question mark as Inanam, the seat of Jeffrey’s senior deputy Daniel John Jambun, is being eyed by SAPP through its deputy president Eric Majimbun who is Sepanggar MP.

 

The cunning SAPP has previously suggested that all should respect the status quo of the incumbents.

 

Soon after getting others to “respect” it, SAPP moved to claim Inanam.

 

“The question is, if SAPP is adamant on taking both Inanam and Sepanggar, then where will Jambun contest?” asked a STAR supporter in Inanam recently.

 

Jambun had in 2008 contested under PKR ticket and garnered a respectable 4,293 votes against DAP’s 2,864. The eventual winner was BN-PBS Johnny Goh who obtained 5,979 votes.

 

Karambunai is another state seat under Sepanggar, but it is possible that SAPP president Yong Teck Lee would want to stand there this time as he has scores of Malay supporters in this constituency.

 

Other possible places for Yong are his former seat Likas near here or Lahad Datu, his hometown in the east coast.

 

Yong stood in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election in November 2010 and lost badly, finishing last with only 2,031 votes behind PKR-imported candidate Ansari Abdullah’s 3,414 and eventual winner BN-PBS Linda Tsen who received 9,773.

 

SAPP could be fielding its secretary-general Richard Yong in the Tanjung Aru mixed state seat where another of Jeffrey’s deputy, Ahmad Sah Sahari, is keen.

 

It is understood that STAR is prepared to let SAPP take Tanjung Aru. But Pakatan – maybe through DAP – is also eyeing the seat.

 

Split opposition votes

 

The murky waters of Sabah’s politics is set to get murkier as opposition leaders fail to appreciate the importance of reconciling their differences and overlapping claims of strength.

 

Some analysts have said that this time as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN by default as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

One analyst cited Kadamaian where if the three opposition parties – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP – put up their respective candidates, they could garner combined votes of around 6,000, leaving a BN candidate way behind with only about 3,500 votes. But BN would still win because of the “strategic” split in the opposition camps.

 

He said a similar situation was also likely in adjacent Tempasuk state seat. The combined votes of the opposition could outnumber BN’s but because of the split, BN will retain Tempasuk.

 

For the record, in the last general election in 2008, there was a three-cornered fight for Tempasuk. BN won the seat after its candidate polled 6,541 votes. PKR garnered 4,109 and an independent took only 191 votes.

 

As for Kadamaian in 2008, BN-PBS Herbert Timbon Lagadan chalked up 5,382 votes, followed by PKR Lukia Indan’s 2,909 and independent Peter Marajin’s 1,729.

 

“There is no question that this time [2012], votes for the opposition would increase in almost all areas and everyone can feel it and even BN leaders acknowledge this.

 

“But the one factor that can ensure BN will win in Sabah is the split opposition votes,” said an observer who is also an NGO leader.

 

Meanwhile, there is no signal that SAPP is re-engaging with Pakatan after being slighted by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conniving manoeuvres.

 

Opposition follies

 

There is also no sign at all that STAR and SAPP are close to working together. They have not started talking on a common manifesto.

 

In fact, both appeared to be trying to outdo each other with their respective draft manifesto.

While STAR commands a respectable following especially in Kadazandusun areas, SAPP cannot be ruled out of the scene.

 

Standing in the way, SAPP, no matter how small its sway over voters is, could make STAR stumble and suffer, either by default or design.

 

Pakatan, through its PKR component, is also a group to be reckoned with in many of the Kadazandusun areas as it has its own flock now, some of whom are led by Jeffrey’s former colleagues in PKR who are tired of following his political journey.

 

The sooner Jeffrey, Anwar and Yong realise their follies, the better it will be for Sabah.

 

If Jeffrey scales down on STAR seats, he could end up facing a possible revolt within the party as those who have resigned, or spent time and money believing they would be candidates would surely be frustrated and feel like they have been taken for a ride.

 

Currently “lost” SAPP needs a win-win engagement now but, except for STAR, no party seems to want to take it seriously as a partner, not even Chinese-based DAP.

 

PKR, to say the least, is already in a “tea-cup turmoil” with incumbent leaders feeling the pressure from new “blue-eyed boys” of Anwar – Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing, who are neither PKR members nor its enemies, but already “dictating” terms on political matters.

 

My Say:

 

I met several incumbent BN YBs....all says a straight fight will be an uphill task for them to retain their respective seats but they are happy (and hoping) that they will face candidates from SAPP, STAR and Pakatan and sure to be laughing all their way to the State Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

Anwar shadows Najib to drum change for Sabah

By Luke Rintod HERE

| October 10, 2012

          

Umno and BN leaders know that there is little love lost in Sabah for the ruling coalition as people continue to feel the effects of higher prices.

 

KOTA KINABALU: Wherever Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak goes, the silhouette of a senior Pakatan Rakyat leader is never too far away from him and the same will happen when he visits Sabah this weekend.

 

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is due in Sabah this Friday on a weekend visit a day ahead of a two-day visit by the premier who will be in the state to shore up support for his Barisan Nasional coalition.

 

However, while the state administration has announced Najib’s itinerary in Penampang, Kundasang and Kudat, Anwar’s visit is lower-profile.

 

According to PKR vice president Tian Chua, he will accompany Anwar this Friday to visit the interior Sabah parliamentary districts of Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan.

 

“Anwar and I are coming this Friday to Tenom, Pensiangan and Keningau to rally support for the party,” he texted in reply to a FMT query on whether opposition leaders would be in Sabah at the same time as Najib as has been the practice.

 

According to local PKR leaders, Anwar will reiterate Pakatan’s pledges to Sabah it made in its shadow budget for 2013 if it wins the coming general election.

 

“They are expected to mount assaults against the Umno regime and the leadership of Musa Aman as Sabah’s Chief Minister,” said a PKR leader here.

 

The opposition party leaders are also expected to drag Umno’s strongest ally in the Sabah BN government, Parti Bersatu Sabah, into the conflict.

 

“It will definitely be along those lines. We will expose more wrong-doings and yes PBS leaders including (Joseph) Pairin will be dragged in as accomplices and accessories to all the abuse of power and public funds by virtue of their support for Umno,” said another PKR leader.

 

Najib is on his fifth visit to Sabah this year. His previous visits to the state also corresponded with that of Pakatan leaders Lim Kit Siang of DAP and Awang Hadi of PAS.

 

BN leaders worried
While Najib has publicly declared that he is confident BN would retain power in Sabah and showed this by ignoring the state to a large extent in his recent 2013 Budget, BN leaders here are privately concerned with the growing dissatisfaction by Sabahans about the low level of development of their state.

 

The indications that opposition is gaining growing support in the BN’s ‘fixed deposit’ state is reflected in Najib’s repeated visits to Sabah where 25 parliamentary seats are up for grabs in the looming elections.

 

Local and national leaders have also grown more sensitive to allegations of corruption and arrogance as the countdown to the elections that must be called by April next year begins.

Anwar and his Pakatan coalition on the other hand have announced sweeteners for the state to ditch the ruling coalition as they have done in the past.

 

Umno and BN leaders know that there is little love lost in Sabah for the ruling coalition as people continue to feel the effects of having to pay more for food and basic items as the government cuts back on subsidies in response to a slowing global economy.

 

Pakatan has promised to increase of oil royalty payment to the poverty-stricken state from 5% to 20% if it forms the federal government and is something Sabahans have been demanding for decades after state leaders inexplicably surrendered the state’s resources.

Meanwhile, it is rumoured that scores of Sabah leaders including another corporate leader, would announce their entry into PKR during Anwar’s visit.

 

Top of the list is Dr Richard Gunting, a Murut leader, who was the general manager of state-owned Koperasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD).

 

According to insiders, Gunting is a potential PKR candidate for the Tenom seat.

Have Poewer to Putrajaya

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional craving for Putrajaya,at whose expense?

By Ronnie Klassen at http://advocateviews.blogspot.com

On one hand UMNO/BN will do anything to stay in power, while Pakatan Rakyat is working towards replacing them in Putrajaya. This is neither a celebrity contest nor another American idol search. This is seizing the opportunity to be the next government at any cost, but at whose expense?

Has it occurred to these two political parties that they are gambling with the lives of the very people who voted them into office? Who cares two hoods how they win, as long as they get to Putrajaya? Well, the people do care, and if anyone feels otherwise, perhaps migration would be the best option.

Let us examine Sabah, which should be one of the richest "states" in Malaysia but now is the second poorest "state" in Malaysia. How did this happen to a "state" rich in natural resources? Sabah is still till this day rich in oil. Who in their sane mind would think this is possible? And UMNO/BN and Pakatan Rakyat are only keen in racing for their jewel prize... PUTRAJAYA.

If Putrajaya is ultimately the place to govern Malaysia for Malaysians, then UMNO/BN has miserably failed in governing the country, because Sabah is still the second poorest state in Malaysia.

Of late, UMNO/BN Sabah leaders have been at each others’ throats, to see who should be rightfully given a specific seat in a constituency with strong words such as "stop bullying fellow Barisan Nasional component parties”. In retaliation, UMNO says "this is a Muslim seat and was only given to you on loan".

In my last posting, I stated that Sabahans are Beggars in their own land; soon Sabahans will be fugitives in their own land. The root of the matter is, this is all about UMNO … UMNO and only UMNO? Barisan Nasional component members have now become pariah's in the eyes of UMNO.

Recently the UMNO Supreme Council convened a meeting to deliberate the Sports Betting issue on a license that was purportedly issued to Vincent Tan, and chaired by non other then the Prime Minister himself, Najib Razak.

At the press conference immediately after the meeting, Najib blatantly said "the government has decided not to issue the license to Vincent Tan”. In a nutshell it was UMNO that decided and not the Federal Government. This is arrogance of the highest order, there again tell me what else is new.

Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah on the other hand is another sob story. Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) has not shown anything concrete either, to say the least. DAP on the other hand has been rather active of late with the numerous visit by the 'Father of Opposition" Lim Kit Siang. I had the opportunity to have had breakfast with him recently, and in his twitter he labeled me as "an interesting fella".

Some have called me worst like "shit stirrer".

Recently I accompanied 5 Sarawakians to the MACC office at Shah Alam, Selangor, where a report was lodged against Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak on his wealth beyond comprehension. The Deputy Director, Yip Pit Wong later however REFUSED to provide a copy of the report. What bullshit. The photo shows me wondering ….. Who’s next to be thrown out the window at MACC?

Another interesting event that took place recently as well was, a Police report that was lodged against me by the President of MAJAP, Datuk Clarence Bongkus Malakun over the Allah issue. This is the very man that asked the Christian community in Sabah to abandon the word Allah. The charge was framed under the Multi-Media Act section 223, under which if found guilty one is liable to a fine of RM50,000 or a year's jail or both.

Clarence B.Malakun must have gone "Bonkers" to have thought that intimidation would tickle me. I will fight to the very end to ensure that the people will not be hoodwinked by government stooges out to con the people, for their own personal agenda?

To my recollection the Holy Father is Pope Benedict and not POPE CLARENCE?

I call upon Sabahans and Sarawakians to rise and seize what rightfully belongs to them. The 13th General Elections is fast approaching and UMNO/BN must be shown the exit door.

We must now strengthen Pakatan Rakyat and if need be take control of change, for the current "leaders"don't appear to understand or seen as wanting to CHANGE or bring about CHANGE.

Posted by Ronnie Klassen

Sarawak new political party

Sarawak, likely to hold its State election next year, now has a new political party called Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia (PRM). It is headed by veteran politician and State assemblyman for Ngemah Gabriel Adit Demong (Pix).

Adit, 59, who joined opposition party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat last year, had won the Ngemah seat as an independent candidate in 2006.

He had previously held the seat for three terms as vice-president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), but had remained without a party after PBDS was deregistered.

A source said PRM’s application for registration had been approved by the Registrar of Societies and is all set to be launched in Sibu on Oct 15. The party, the source said, has the backing of several Sarawak's well known politicians.

"PRM will be applying to join Barisan Nasional and is confident to be accepted into the national coalition," the source said.