Darell
PENAMPANG: When the Master of Ceremony at the Education and Career Carnival here yesterday addressed Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) as Yang Berhormat Darell Leiking, people thought that he forgot the latter is now a Datuk.
Darell however, explained later that he was the one who did not want to use the title as he personally feels that he does not deserve it yet.
Speaking to reporters later, the Penampang Member of Parliament said that on a personal level, he feels that there is much to be done to deserve the title.
“I am speaking for myself, and not the rest. Some people may think they deserve it but I personally think I don’t deserve it as yet, but since I have it I will work to ensure the state has made the right decision,” he said, adding that he has extended his opinion to Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal on the matter.
According to him, since the honour was bestowed on him, and as much as he thinks he does not deserve it yet, Darell assured that he will work hard to ensure that the state has made the right decision in bestowing him the Datukship.
Darell was among 65 individuals awarded with Datukship by Yang di-Pertua Negeri (TYT) Tun Juhar Mahiruddin in conjunction with the latter’s 65th birthday on October 6.
Some quarters have criticized the number of people receiving the honorific title and why it was conferred to certain individuals since the government was newly formed.
“I will make sure it is worthwhile and I will do whatever I can to the best of my ability in the next five years,” Darell who is also Parti Warisan Sabah deputy President, said.
On the complaints by certain quarters about the unfair distribution of councillor posts in local authorities, including the Penampang District Council, Darell said that political decisions must be made based on what can be done and is right for the area.
“We will accommodate them in other ways. What is important is that not everything is about position. There is no such thing as revenge, we forgive but we want the best people to work, not shared work.
“But shared work just because you are a political partner? That should not be the case, it is about people who suffered and sacrificed with you and you want to give them a chance to showcase what they can do,” he pointed out.
Darell also said that not being included in the special committee set up by the new federal government to look into the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) does not mean not having a role to play in solving the matter.
“I always think this way, being involved ‘inside’ doesn’t mean you can solve the problem. Sometimes it is done when you are on the outside. You can participate, you will always be part of the whole caucus – it does not mean you have to have a position to solve a problem,” he said.
He said this when asked to comment about the exclusion of parties who have been championing the issue from the committee.
The Penampang Member of Parliament pointed out that Moyog assemblywoman Jenifer Lasimbang did not hold any posts prior to the 14th general election (GE14), but even though she was out of government, she managed to solve problems.
“I think it is not easy for some people to learn that you don’t have to have position to solve problems. The people of Penampang still gave us a chance with twice the majority we had in GE13, a time when we had no position in government and no allocation,” he said.
When asked to comment on the suggestion to include indigenous group in MA63 committee, the Minister of International Trade and Industry said he agreed with it because the indigenous people and stakeholders are important.
It is not about political parties, it is about the indigenous people because they have more stake than us as they represent the community, he said and pointed out that indigenous people number more than party members.
“The NGOs, business people, the academicians – we should get them involved because they will last longer than the politicians. Politicians come and go but indigenous people are here to stay and continue to speak out for their community.
“I urge Sabahans to think as Sabahans. This is the moment and opportune time,” he said and lamented that people who keep on talking about race end up breaking Sabahans apart socially and economically.
“We must break down that wall that divides us. I am sick and tired of people as well as politicians who use race but that is bad because you are only talking about yourself. Sabah is a shared state, everybody put their hands together to create what we have in Sabah and everyone can solve Sabah’s problems if we call ourselves Sabahans,” he said.