KOTA KINABALU: It is now clear that it was neither Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan nor Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee who had first championed the formation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the illegal immigrant presence in in Sabah.
According to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice president Datuk Herbert T Lagadan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had made that fact clear.
“It was very enlightening to note Chua’s statement giving credit to PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and I am sure there are many Sabahan who were not aware of the fact that it was PBS and Pairin who championed for the need to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah,” the Kadamaian assemblyman said.
Herbert believed that Sabahans should greatly appreciate the MCA president’s revelation that Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the first to reject the setting up of the commission proposed by Pairin in 1994.
“Is Anwar play-acting now just to hoodwink Sabahans and garner their support?” asked Herbert.
“I hope Sabahans will still remember how he (Anwar) destroyed democracy in Sabah after the 1994 state election when he had successfully orchestrated the party hopping which included Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin,” he said, adding that as a reward, Lajim was given a ministerial portfolio in lieu of his former appointment as an assistant minister under Pairin’s government.
Herbert also pointed out that Anwar’s promise of developing Sabah in 100 days which he had formulated as the Deputy Prime Minister cum Sabah Election Operation Director in 1994 had failed to derail PBS.
“This time round he has successfully enticed Lajim and Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing to jump to his side on the fringe of the 13th general election.
“I am perplexed as to why Anwar had the gut to accuse the BN government of not heeding previous request to form RCI in Sabah when in fact he was the first to reject PBS’ proposal in 1994? The team combination of a ‘master promise maker (PKR) and a ‘fact twister’ is a recipe for grand disaster for Sabah,” he opined.