Kota Kinabalu: Star information chief, Anuar Ghani, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi should not force Sabah parties to cooperate with Malaya-based parties who tried to sabotage the current GRS State Government.
“This approach not only contradicts the spirit and rationale of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) but also undermines the democratic and constitutional rights of the people of Sabah to choose the parties they believe in without any political pressure,” he said in a statement.
“The people of Sabah should not be subtly threatened that they will be punished if they choose local parties that do not align with the Federal Government. If that is the case, this Madani government is no different than during Tun Mahathir.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“Sabah, regardless of who is the Federal Government, should be treated fairly and as a constitutional equal partner (See Article I (2)(b) of the Federal Constitution).
“Who else can better take care of the Sabahans other than the Sabahans and local parties themselves? Development is the right of the people, not a political reward.
“The terms and conditions for cooperation are simple. Fulfil the MA63 terms and under the Federal Constitution.
“The RM600 million promised by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is merely a sweetener that only covers 3.1 per cent of Sabah’s 40 per cent rights under Article 112(a) and Part IV Schedule 10 of the Federal Constitution for the year 2025.
“Give us our rights so that the Sabah Government can use the funds to improve development in Sabah, to resolve the long term issues of electricity and water, improve Sabah’s education, health and basic necessities.
He said the proposal to include Malayan parties is an attempt to make Umno relevant in national and state politics.
“They are trying to apply their modus operandi in seven states in peninsula where they needed to form coalitions to govern or dominate the states of Johore, Penang, Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and they have lost (zero seats) in Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis, and Kedah (and Sarawak).
“Umno has been rejected. They need us than we need them,” he said.
“Sarawak is governed by a local party. There are no insurmountable issues. Sabah too wants to be led by local parties.
“We can convey the request and demands of the people of Sabah through Sabahans appointed in the Federal Cabinet.
“The decision on Sabah’s interest and requirements will be made by Presidents of the local parties and not branch managers of Malayan parties at the Sabah level.
“Rumah kita, kita jaga (We’ll take care of our own house),” he said.