TUARAN: Tan Sri Simon Sipaun was entitled to air his views as to how the country had fared as he had experienced life on pre and post Malaysia.
United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said as a civil servant, the former Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) vice chairman had vast experience on the workings of the government.
Dompok who is Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, said this when asked to comment on Sipaun’s statement recently that “life in Sabah was considerably better before Malaysia was formed”.
“The first thing I want to say is this, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun has been a civil servant for a very long time.
“Obviously he was born before independence.
“He has noticed a lot of things before Merdeka.
“He was one of the earlier Sabahans to have been educated overseas so he therefore, brings with him a wealth of experience and the insight into the workings of the country both before and after the formation of Malaysia.
“And I think he is entitled to that view as well as be allowed to express this type of views.
“There are certain home truths that are hard to swallow but we will have to find a remedy for some of the things that are true,” he said.
According to Dompok, he was handed a copy of Sipaun’s statement in Kuala Lumpur and had a brief look at it.
He was of the opinion that some of the things Sipaun had said were not altogether off the mark.
“So I think while we want to move on as a nation, it is not wrong for us to reflect on some of the things that are either not done or half done and to find a remedy for this.
“I don’t think a person should be condemned for expressing a view of this nature,” he said.