I will continue to lead UBF – Dr Jeffrey

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KOTA BELUD: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said he will remain the leader of the United Borneo Front (UBF) and will take the meaning of a non-partisan civil rights movement to the consciousness of the people “until it completely sinks in”.

He gave the reassurrance at a Borneo Tea Party event held at Kampung Kiau here on Sunday.

“In the 1960 census, with just under 1.2 million people in Sabah and Sarawak, over 50% of the population in Sabah and Sarawak were illiterate with only 0.0007% of the total population in both States holding graduate degrees.

“Our forefathers and ancestors had every reason to fear the Federation and submit to the futility of their ignorance. Despite that, the Cobbold Commission Report states that Sabah had active trade and full employment as a result of their trading with Hong Kong.

“Today, we have a bigger population, a huge percentage of graduates and the global reputation, as endorsed by the World Bank, for being the poorest in the nation. On top of that, we are more ignorant than ever. Having left politics, some sectors in politics are still trying to convince people that I am a politician or in the opposition. They are completely ignorant of the civil rights movement concept and continue to hold personal vendettas against me even though I have chosen to be non-partisan.

“I have long forgiven those who hate me to pursue what I believe is my higher destiny: to bring knowledge of the past to the people, provide solutions to our problems and backwater status and nurture the rise of young, fresh leaders in our communities so that they will take over the baton from leaders who have been in the scene for far too long that they have gone past their expiry dates.

“Until the struggle of the UBF is part of their daily mantra, I will not be returning to any of the existing political parties in Sabah. If the UBF struggle can be carried by a handful of the parties in Sabah, just as SNAP is willing to do that in Sarawak, there may not even be a necessity for me to set up my own political party here. “If I am continually pressured by the people to represent them or provide a vehicle for them, I will call the parties in the Borneo Alliance to democratically arrive at an acceptable solution. As long as the MPs and ADUNS of Sabah and Sarawak understand this entire concept and that they are responsible as servants of the people to carry the Borneo Agenda through cabinet and parliament, we may be able to push for at least 35% representation in parliament for Borneo MPs to allow for the right of veto instead of the pathetic 25% currently,” Dr Jeffrey said a statement yesterday.

Meanwile, Dr Jeffrey disclosed that a seminar will be organised by the Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) in Kota Kinabalu where all elected members of parliament and state assemblymen throughout Sabah and Sarawak will be invited to participate in a discourse.

The discourse will fully discuss the issues of Borneo and brainstorm common solutions to achieve the seven core demands that Dr Jeffrey and his advisers have been pushing as the UBF concept.

“If the three dons can be sent here from West Malaysia to pry ideas out of Sabah thinkers, I don’t see why Borneo-based “dons” can’t do the same thing. If the UBF team is invited to CM’s suggested ‘Don Dialogue’ in Sandakan we will attend, in the same way we hope that if we invite politicians to attend our dialogues, they will have no qualms in attending.

“The BHF will invite the UBF advisers, Nilakrisna James and Zainal Ajamain, to moderate the discussions of our planned dialogue and invitations will be sent to the presidents of all parties, including the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak.

“The invitation is limited to those who at this point are still elected politicians. It is anticipated that some will be totally arrogant and scoff at the idea but the more level-headed and open-minded amongst them will be open to suggestions. The leaders you should vote for are the leaders who are humble,” Dr Jeffrey said.