Pandikar should be ‘neutral’ – MP

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KOTA KINABALU: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin should be impartial and neutral on political views, said DAP Sabah chairman Stephen Wong.

“Pandikar should not openly challenge the opposition on any political stance. He should be impartial and neutral. Even though he issued such statement in his own capacity, it is still wrong for him to openly comment on any political issues,” Wong asserted.

Pandikar has challenged the opposition to state their stance on official religion of Sabah.

Wong, who is also Sandakan MP, said that it is historically proven that Sabah and Sarawak are not ordinary 12th and 13th states in Malaysia.

“We are unique entities and we formed Malaysia together with Federation of Malaya and Singapore. It was clearly indicated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, IGC Report and the Cobbold Commission Report,” he said.

“I think it is dangerous and unnecessary for Pandikar to bring up the issue of the 1976 state constitution amendment where Sabah officially adopted Islam as the official religion.

“I strongly urge Pandikar to stop playing on religious issues as it would tear Sabahans apart and create disunity as well as disharmony among the people of Sabah,” he said.

Wong added that he had tabled a motion twice in Parliament proposing amendment to the Federal Constitution to restore Sabah’s position from being one of 13 states by recognizing Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Constitution. However, these motions were rejected by the Speaker.

“Now I can understand why Pandikar would reject my motions. As a Speaker, he should accept any reasonable motion without favouring any political parties.

Wong reiterated that DAP has always championed Sabah’s rights as one-third of Malaysia’s founding equal partners. That is the reason why DAP rejected the 1976 Federal Constitutional amendment in Parliament led by Lim Kit Siang. DAP has always defended Sabah and Sarawak’s rights.

“We want to make Malaysia treat Sabah and Sarawak fairly and equally.”

He added that if Pandikar is really interested in Sabah politics, he should have resigned from the position of Speaker.