KOTA KINABALU: The issue of secession of Sabah from Malaysia is merely created by irresponsible quarters to incite the emotions of the people against the Federal Government, said the Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang.
Teo, who is also Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president, said during the LDP Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at Damai Community Centre here on Saturday that it was a non-issue.
Before the formation of the Federation of Malaysia by Sabah, Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore on 16th September 1963, there were strenuous objections from Indonesia and the Philippines due to their claims on Sabah, he said.
“We even faced Indonesia’s political and military confrontation until 1966, and today the Philippines has not abandoned its territorial claims on Sabah.”
In view of such external threats, Teo said it was the right move for Sabah to form Malaysia with the other components.
“’Now that Sabah is part of the Federation, the issue of secession does not arise. In fact the 20 points prohibit secession,”he pointed out.