KOTA KINABALU: The present government should stop viewing Sabah as its fixed deposit and take it for granted, said UPKO secretary general, Datuk Donald Mojuntin to press members yesterday.
“The government seems to think that we are its fixed deposit but they have to realise that even banks can be robbed,” he stressed.
“Of course, BN (Barisan Nasional) won Sabah but overall, we have lost many seats as well. We need to study why we lost the seats at constituencies where the majority of the voters were the Kadazandusun, Murut and Chinese,” he urged.
He added that the present government needed to work harder, particularly at the grassroots.
On the intention of the Kadazan Dusun Murut Malaysia Association’s intention to become a political party, Donald merely said the matter should be left to the people.
“It is up to them to decide who they want to trust.”
He also said it was the association’s right if it decides to register as a political party.
“It is their right. If they have a good objective and proper constitution, it is up to them.
“Furthermore, Malaysia is a democratic country and anyone can form a party,” he said.
He added that he didn’t know whether the association had already registered to become a political party.
At the same time, Donald also commented on the Monash University Malaysia academician Professor James Chin’s claim that a slight majority of East Malaysians wanted to cede from the country.
“There are pros and cons to the issue, but in my personal opinion, if we were to cede (from the country) who is going to support us in terms of security? How will we restructure our finances to run our country?
“Furthermore, it isn’t known how many actually wanted to cede from the country.
“Malaysia is a stable country. Of course we are facing challenges economically but politically, it is still a stable country… if we pull out from the country it may create more strive than benefits,” he said.