KOTA KINABALU: The “unprecedented and shocking” revelations at the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on phantom voters serve as a clarion call for all Sabah leaders across the political divide to join hands to call for, among other things, the suspension of the forthcoming general election in Sabah until the electoral rolls are cleaned up, said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
The unprecedented revelations were certainly a first in world history and the international community, the world legal fraternity and the United Nations Security Council and its members should seriously study to stand by the long suffering people of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, the STAR Sabah chairman said in a press statement yesterday.
“Back home, we urge all local Sabah leaders, NGOs and the people to come together and join hands with STAR Sabah in this grave and darkest moment in Malaysia and Sabah’s history to take a common stand on what the RCI has revealed,” he said.
“The Election Commission (EC), which is supposed to be impartial as set out and required in the Federal Constitution, should stop its nonsense and ensure that fair and free elections are carried out in the 13th general election,” he added.
Given the revelations at the RCI until now, Jeffrey stressed that it is obvious that the electoral rolls, at least in Sabah, are tainted and need to be cleaned up before the upcoming election can be held in Sabah.
“We cannot allow illegitimate voters and foreigners to vote and determine the future of Sabah. The forthcoming general elections in Sabah should not be held until the RCI has completed its task and the electoral rolls are totally cleaned up and free from dubious, illegitimate and foreign voters,” he added.
STAR Sabah will be holding a press conference on January 21 at the Sabah Oriental Hotel here, regarding the revelations at the RCI, the role of the EC in the light of these revelations and the 13th general election.
“We take this opportunity to invite all Sabah leaders across the political divide, NGOs and the people to attend the press conference so that we, the people and leaders of Sabah, can make a common stand.
“We need to ‘Selamatkan Sabah Tanah Airku’ for the future of Sabah and Sabahans,” Jeffrey said.