As resentment grows, Sabah lawmaker moots bipartisan panel to review Malaysia Agreement

KOTA KINABALU, March 9 — Citing a prevailing feeling of being “short-changed” in Sabah, DAP lawmaker Edwin Bosi proposed today a select committee to review the north Borneo state’s position and its indigenous people’s rights after 52 years as part of Malaysia.

The Kepayan assemblyman said such a bipartisan committee in the state legislative assembly could be empowered to hold a public inquiry, which will provide Sabahans the chance to air their hopes and expectations of their state within the Malaysian federation.

It would also deal with the increasing sentiments of their dissatisfaction with Putrajaya that sparked the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) secession movement, he added.

“Another important aspect of such a review must be the three fundamental guarantees engraved in the Keningau Batu Sumpah – freedom of religion, land rights and adat istiadat of native Sabahans,” said Bosi in a statement, the last referring to the customary practices of its indigenous peoples.

He added that he will submit his proposal to be tabled at the Sabah legislative assembly when it sits next month.

The proposal is a follow-up to recent suggestions by state assembly speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Said for the federal government give partial autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak, as well as Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman who called on all state leaders to put aside their political look into the rights of Sabah as enshrined in the 20 Points, Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution.

Bosi said that Sabahans, spurred by Sarawak chief minister’s outspoken remarks on the state’s rights, are getting more disgruntled with their position in the Federation, and the SSKM movement is a bold manifestation of their unhappiness.

“As long as UMNO is dominant and the chief minister is from UMNO, there is little chance to see open and public remarks from Sabah leaders and in particular from the Chief Minister to assert or to demand Sabah’s rights in Malaysia.

“SSKM believes that there is no democracy in Sabah. There is no freedom of expression, association and of speech. Malaya only wants to control and dictate what and how Sabahans should live and behave. SSKM therefore wants to see Sabah being an independent country like Brunei and Singapore,” he said.

According to him, the setting up of a select committee would be timely and most appropriate and should include representation from opposition lawmakers.

“It is only when the Sabah Assembly discusses and deliberates on Sabah’s position in Malaysia vis-à-vis the 20 Points, Malaysia Agreement, Federal and Sabah Constitution and the Batu Sumpah that will carry the weight and the force when it is submitted and presented to Putrajaya,” he said.

The next Sabah assembly sitting will be from April 9 to 16.


Sumber - Malay Mail Online