THE State and Federal Governments are discussing the return of immigration powers to Sabah to curb the free flow of entry into Sabah through Labuan.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said this is in line with the party’s demands that the rights and security of people of Sabah be protected as enshrined in the Federation of Malaysia and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).
“Our demands have been taken seriously, which saw the creation of the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department (Dr Maximus was appointed as the Minister),” he said in his policy speech at the 36th and 37th annual delegates conference and party polls at Wisma Hakka Hall, Kota Kinabalu, on June 30.
Among the issues was also Borneonisation, as enshrined in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement involving civil servants from Sabah and Sarawak.
He said job opportunities should be more open for both Bornean states because we also have civil servants that are equally good and capable as our counterparts from Peninsular Malaysia.
He said former party president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had introduced the “dignity of man” to promote the principle of fair and just, which was one of the six thrusts of PBS’ struggle.
The others are that PBS is the largest multi-racial party in Malaysia-home for all.
He said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed is working to include the development of education, health and digital infrastructure in the State, so that our children can learn in a comfortable environment. The sixth thrust is related to poverty and several programmes have been carried out by the State and Federal Governments.
“Several districts in Sabah are classified as among the poorest districts in Malaysia, including my own area, Kota Marudu,” he said. He said the party needs to train young people to be more literate with the real political struggle through PBS.
“Therefore, we need to be more active and attract more young people to join us in fighting for the mission and vision of our party,” he said.
He said existing leaders should not feel intimidated or threatened by the involvement of young people.
“Instead, welcome the involvement of these young people, train and lead them so that they know and understand the basics of the struggle of PBS,” said Dr Maximus.
PBS needs a line of credible, clean and committed leadership, he said.
“Our mission is to maintain PBS’s position to remain relevant at all times. We have gone through 37 years together, and it is time for us to pass on the leadership of this party to the next generation.
“Almost half of the existing supreme council members are heading towards retirement age, so we need the injection of new blood to continue our party’s struggle,” said Dr Maximus.
“Sometimes the leadership is blamed for not giving a chance to the younger generation from the women or youth movement.
“The problem is, none of them stand out to be nominated as a candidate in an election. So, increase your involvement in the party activities and work honestly for the good of the party,” he said.
He urged the party to increase effort to attract more voters aged 18 and above to join the party and
expose them to the mission and vision of PBS.
He said the existing leaders in PBS should be proud of having the opportunity to study at “Pairin’s School of Politics”.
“Now, as PBS’s Premier Advisor, he (Pairin) continues to play a role in guiding us all,” he said.
He also said PBS has always invested in the principle of honourable politics as sincerity and honesty are the best recipes for maintaining unity in a coalition.
PBS has gone through various challenges and mission to find the best formula for political stability, in which they finally found it in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), he said
PBS also urged the anti-hopping bill (RUU) be expedited for the sake of political stability in the country as the party has been a victim to the traditional party-hopping.
PBS also expressed appreciation to the support given by other partners in GRS.
“It is time for us to unite in addressing the influx of illegal immigrants in Sabah which the party has always tried to cleanse from the past.
“In fact, there are some parties that abused the presence of illegal immigrants for their own political interests which was proven in the Royal Commission of Inquiry,” he said.
He praised the economic development under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Roadmap development plan.
“The three major trusts are spot on, in view of the global economic changes despite the challenges of Covid-19.
“The contents have been well thought of. The key challenges are the financing of programs and implementation of major tasks.
“More work needs to be done, especially on the role of the government agencies as the implementary arm of the Government.
“We, in PBS, give our full support to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Sabah Government under his leadership, especially in the effort to develop Sabah,” he said.
Domestic development must be carried out honestly because it involves the prosperity of the community in Sabah, he said.
All the PBS top stalwarts including the party longest serving Secretary General Datuk Seri Radin Malleh, Datuk Seri Dr Yee Moh Chai, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Datuk Jahid Jahim, among others were present.
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