Jo Nandu
PENAMPANG: An NGO from Penampang known as Pergerakkan Pemantau Sukarelawan (Pantau Penampang) yesterday reminded Sabah’s ex-Umno elected representatives who have been accepted to join Bersatu to pledge their allegiance to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
According to Jo Nandu, who is the movement’s chairman, the ex-Umno represented (YBs) must prove to Sabahans that they are aligned with the State Government’s decisions particularly in relation to Sabah’s rights and interests.
“There is no way for anyone to stop Bersatu from coming into Sabah and accept these ex-Umno YBs to join that party because that is undemocratic.
“However, Bersatu Sabah and these ex-Umno YBs must prove it to us all that they’re free from the Malay or Malaya supremacy concept, the way PKR Sabah and DAP Sabah have shown to Sabahans through the many tests they have gone through,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Jo said that since Warisan + PH Sabah now commands the two-thirds majority in the State Assembly, he expected these ex-Umno YBs to strengthen the demand by Warisan to Federal in pursuing Sabah’s rights and privilleges.
“What I expect is that if any of the State Assemblymen from Warisan, PKR or DAP table a motion with regard to the activation of Sabah’s rights on a wide range of issues particularly on Article 8 of the MA63 and on Territorial Sea Act 2012, these ex-Umno YBs will be supportive of such endeavors.”
Afterall, the President of Bersatu, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had clearly stated that Bersatu entered Sabah and accepted these ex-Umno YBs to strengthen the Chief Minister’s, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s position.
“So, since the restoration and activation of Sabah’s rights and privilleges should be spearheaded by the State Assembly and it is in congruent with the aspiration of Sabahans, then I see no reason at all for these ex-Umno YBs not to support such endeavors,” he said.
He also reminded the ex-Umno YBs that they are now obliged to assist the Chief Minister in developing the State.
“Some of these YBs have held ministerial positions for more than two terms and partly responsible in coming out with policies or systems that have never benefitted the State such as the much hated Communal Title system.”
And on top of it, if they have been good ministers, then Sabah would have been now one of the most developed states in Malaysia.
So, these ex-Umno YBs should not expect to be welcomed as ‘heroes’ but instead realised that they have been given the chance to redeem themselves for their past failures and to render full assistance to the Chief Minister or State Cabinet (whenever the need arises) towards the restructuring of the State Government.
“Any plan or effort to strengthen the State Government is very much welcomed but it should be fair and taking into account the previous performance of these individuals,” he said.
Jo also said as a matter of principle and to ensure that there should be no more erosions on the State’s rights and privilleges happening in the future, Bersatu should be clear that Warisan must retain the rights for the majority of the seats in Sabah.
“Of course people will say that this is impossible to achieve because of the idea that only the best representatives and those with deep pockets should represent their constituencies but history told us that Umno’s governance of 24 years in Sabah had made us the poorest in Malaysia,” he claimed.
“However, we equally cannot adopt the stand made by PBS back in the 90s because that will bring our State into an economical mess.
“So I think it is necessary for us all to iron this out now with Bersatu Sabah signing an understanding with Warisan, PKR Sabah and DAP Sabah that Warisan shall hold the exclusive rights for the majority of the seats.
“Isn’t this will strengthen Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s position in administrating the State?” he said.
He, however, opined that the entry of Bersatu into Sabah and the acceptance of ex-Umno YBs is good for everyone.
“The good side of this is the promotion of a healthy competition. And from this ‘competition’, Warisan leaders and party members will definitely close ranks and this is turn shall strengthen the party.
“Bersatu may have reneged on its promise not to enter into Sabah but I don’t really see why Sabahans should be wary of it.
For me, this only serves to remind Warisan leaders and members to work even harder and to perform the best that they could for Sabah,” he concluded.