KOTA KINABALU: Pertubuhan Solidariti Masyarakat Sabah (SMS) lodged a police report yesterday in the hope of putting a stop to the actions of Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from allegedly pushing for Sabah’s secession from Malaysia.
SMS pro tem president Musli Oli claimed SSKM not only criticized federal government policies on Sabah and Sarawak, but also used race and religion to inciting hatred among the people in order to achieve their goal.
Musli, who is also former deputy information chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah, said the activities of SSKM could affect national unity and peace, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
SMS is an NGO formed last week and is still awaiting official registration under the Registrar of Societies (ROS). Its pro tem committee comprise two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members, two Umno members, one United Sabah National Organization (USNO) member, and two Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) members.
SSKM was established on August 9, 2011 by a Sabahan lawyer.
Musli claimed that SSKM had been active in their struggle to bring Sabah and Sarawak out of Malaysia and disseminate their message through Facebook, Twitter, newsletter, blog and the latest was a video uploaded to YouTube, as well as holding seminars and ceramah in the interior parts of Sabah.
“There is a video on YouTube talking about bringing Sabah and Sarawak out of Malaysia that has been shared more than 10,000 times,” he said.
Musli said SSKM must be investigated and stopped in their campaign and the ways they used to garner support.
“In order to achieve their goal, SSKM not only criticized federal government policies on Sabah and Sarawak, but also instilled seeds of hatred towards national and Sabahan leaders.
“Many of the postings insulted leaders, calling them animals and so on,” he claimed.
He added that SSKM also instilled hatred among the people against Malaya, Malaysia and the Islamic religion.
Musli said SSKM also cooperated with several NGOs such as the United Borneo Front (UBF) to collect 300,000 signatures in a petition for self determination.
“This NGO has used the same modus operandi, that is to instill hatred,” he said.
He said SMS also fought for the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, oil royalty and Sabah to be recognized as a country.
“What we fight for is full autonomy. That’s why I agree with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee to fight for autonomy but not secession.
“We fight for Sabah rights within the framework of Malaysia,” he continued.
He pointed out that fighting for the rights of Sabahans had nothing to do with one being Kadazan, Malay, Chinese, Christians or Muslims.
“The moment you try to isolate that, saying that Muslims are all Umno and pro Federal Government, this is no good, this only splits up the rakyat,” he pointed out.
If the United Nations were to request for a referendum in Sabah to decide if our people want out of Malaysia, Musli believed that 50 per cent of the people would vote for it, especially the younger generation.
“But they do not know what will happen after that,” he said.
Musli said he made the police report as the president of SMS and chairman of NGOs who are concerned with peace in Sabah so that the police would immediately investigate and take action under the relevant Act.
On a related issue, Musli said our country should celebrate Malaysia Day on September 16, the day that the Federation of Malaysia was formed.
Also present with Musli were MCA Sabah Youth vice chief Stephen Kong and special tasks officer to the Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Halil Ruffli.