Let Sabahans hold key state, federal positions – Gema

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(From left) Fredrine, Jovilis, Jamain, Sharif and Gema secretary Dr Brister Mokujal at the press conference yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Youth Alliance (Gema) has called for all key state and federal positions to be filled by Sabahans.

Gema chairman Jamain Sarudin, who is also SAPP Youth chief, lauded the recent announcement that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin will be the next vice chancellor effective June 18.

He added that this prompted Gema Sabah to cancel their scheduled peaceful rally and discontinue the collection of signatures for their UMS petition last Thursday.

He revealed that 4,209 signatures were collected since June 9.

“We have achieved our goal to have a Sabahan chosen for the position. On behalf of Gema Sabah, we look forward to his appointment,” said Jamain at a press conference held at Pakatan Harapan Rakyat Sabah Office here yesterday.

Deputy Gema chairman, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah Youth chief and UMS Petition organizing chairman Ir Jovilis Majami said the proposal for a non-Sabahan did not make sense and goes against the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Thanks to the Higher Education Ministry (KPT) and also the UMS Board of Directors for listening to Gema as before this our objection to their proposal has been viraled on Facebook and the mass media,” he pointed out.

“Even though the government has fulfilled our request this time, we will not stop voicing out if there is any biased appointment or breach of the MA63, IGC (Inter-Governmental Committee) Report, or 20 points (Agreement) because this will guarantee the future of Sabah’s next generation,” said Jovilis.

Deputy Gema chairman and STAR Wiramuda chief Fredrine Tuliang stressed that a fight for a Sabahan UMS Vice Chancellor should not arise again in the future.

In addition, he demanded that all the main state and federal positions be filled by Sabahans.

“After this, Gema will do a revision of the main positions in Sabah to look for positions filled by Peninsular Malaysians. We will do a follow-up and insist that these departmental head positions be filled by Sabahans,” emphasized Fredrine.

“There is basis for this claim as it is guaranteed in the 20 points, IGC report and MA63,” he explained.

Deputy Gema chairman and PPRS Youth chief Sharif Suhaimi said Sabahans should not be the second choice when it comes to Sabah’s key positions.

“The same thing has happened in the teachers training campuses, there are no indigenous Sabahans holding main positions,” he said.

“Sabah’s native children need to be in every position, educational and alike,” Sharif stressed.