Queville To
Only a collective voice among local politicians can reverse the fortune of Sabah, according to Jeffrey Kitingan
“The laws and policies which put Sabah and Sarawak at an unfair economic disadvantage can only be reversed if the Borneo parliamentarians reacted in one voice to demand changes to policies such those related to cabotage and trans-shipment of goods via Port Klang,” he said.
He was speaking in response to complaints and questions from the business community during a UBF gathering in Keningau over the weekend over the high cost of doing business due to the cabotage policy.
The business people in Sabah claimed that they have been victims of unfair trade practices imposed by Kuala Lumpur.
They said they have no choice but to raise the price of sundry goods to the extent that it was beyond the means of the people, especially those living far from towns.
Jeffrey said the answer lay with the local members of Parliament.
“The peninsula takes up 166 seats in Parliament… after the 2008 election. Sabah and Sarawak hold 56 seats and Labuan one.
“If all 56 Sabah and Sarawak MPs joined and put the Borneo Agenda at the forefront, they will be able to have a greater say in Parliament.
“However, if we need to change or amend or reverse unfair policies and laws in future, Sabah and Sarawak must have an increase in the number of MPs representing the people so that we at least will have more than a one-third veto to stop a two-third majority from always bearing down on us,” Jeffrey said.
Besides discussing the disparity in the prices of common foodstuffs and household goods between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, the gathering also debated the failure to increase the potential income of smallholders to the same level as those in the peninsula.
Smallholders in Keningau are reportedly selling their products at half the price charged by their counterparts in the peninsula.
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