KENINGAU: United Sabah Borneo Murut Organisation (BORNEO) is requesting the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government to consider appointing a senator to handle the portfolio of a ministry to look after the interests of the indigenous people in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia after the 13th general election.
Its president, Datuk Dr Bernard S Maraat, said as the indigenous communities of countries around the world are recognized by the United Nations (UN), it is only fair that the government should create a ministry to handle the interests of the indigenous community in this country.
“The role of the ministry should be to oversee and ensure the welfare and plight of indigenous people in this country be at par with the more developed people in other parts of the country,” he told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
Maraat also said that BORNEO would request for a Murut leader to be appointed as a cabinet minister at either the state or federal level. After the last election, there was no leader from among the Murut people that was appointed as a minister of the government at the state and federal level.
“I hope BORNEO’s two important requests, i.e. one, to create a ministry to handle the interests of the indigenous people in Malaysia and two, to appoint a Murut to a ministerial position at the state or federal level will be given due consideration,” he said.
He said a majority of the Murut people in the interior are still lagging behind in the socio-economic field, and it is hoped that with their representation in the cabinet, the community would no longer be isolated from the mainstream of development in the country.
Maraat added BORNEO fully supported the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to continue Barisan Nasional’s (BN) rule in the country and the state.
He said the leadership of BORNEO noted that the three leaders have shown their ability to the people for their commitment to govern the country and this state effectively.
The former Pensiangan member of parliament also said BORNEO is confident that the three leaders would be able to lead the people to political stability and economic growth that can be enjoyed by all the people in this country.
“For me, the Prime Minister is one who has deep insights to conjure a variety of transformation initiatives to transform the lives of the people and maintain peace and continued prosperity for the people.
“This is evident from the fact that the BN government has the best record of ruling the country from the strong support of the people of all races and religions in this country that want caring and people-oriented leaders,” he said.
He also likened Musa to that of a successful Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in his ability to strengthen the financial position of the state and to be able to bring more development to provide comfort to people from all corners of the state.
Maraat, who is the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council member, is confident that the BN would be able to achieve victory in the next election on the basis of leadership quality they have today which is accepted by the people.
On this note, he asked that the BN leadership choose a candidate who can win in this 13th general election.
“BN should be wise and cautious when making selection of the BN candidate. Candidates need to have strong support from the people and the potential to win,” he said.
Maraat, who is also PBS Sook division chief, is also suggesting to the leadership that the selection of the BN candidate for the 13th general election should be balanced between a veteran leader and a new face from among the young people because the people want a leader who can handle the problems of the people.
According to him, the people’s way of thinking now has changed and they have gotten wiser and smarter on current issues as it is in line with the government’s intention of bringing Malaysia to become a developed nation by the year 2020 when we create high-income people who can compete with developed countries.
Maraat is also requesting for the Ministry of Education to review the housing allowance of teachers in Sabah which is not at par with their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia.
“This disparity has led Sabah teachers to often grumble because the allowance being not at par has become a burden to them when working in the most remote rural areas such as in Pensiangan, Rundum and other areas in the interior,” he said.
He hoped the ministry would review the allowance of the teachers from Sabah, so that would it not become a political issue by the opposition.