Labuan MP tells Upko to stay out

Michael Kaung

An senior member of the Sabah Barisan Nasional coalition wants the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.

LABUAN: The call to return Labuan to Sabah by a senior Sabah politician is uncalled for, Labuan MP Yussof Mahal said here yesterday.

He said United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) vice- president Wences Anggang should retract his statement.

Yussof, the Barisan Nasional MP, said Anggang’s statement could adversely affect the existing good ties between Sabah and federal government.

“Being the MP here I know better about the situation in my constituency, so there is no need for any suggestion from any leaders outside of Labuan to urge any leaders, be it in the state government or federal government, to return the island to Sabah,” he said yesterday.

Yussof, who is also chairman of Labuan Corporation, said the people of Labuan have enjoyed steady development and progress under the federal government.

“The elevation of Labuan into a federal territory was based on mutual agreement between the Sabah and federal leaders.

“As such, Anggang should not simply jump to conclusions and urge the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.”

Remove free port status

Upko, he said, already has a representative in the Labuan Corporation’s advisory council who can speak up for the Kadazandusun Murut community (KDM).

Anggang yesterday called on the federal government to return Labuan to the Sabah government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status.

He made the statement in response to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, alleging that smuggling activities in Labuan were out of control and as a result, the government was incurring huge losses.

Anggang said Raja Nong’s proposition that the status of Labuan as a free port be scrapped was tantamount to admitting failure in maintaining the island as a free port, a status it has held since the British colonial rule.

He said the removal of the free port status as suggested by the finance ministry would affect the lives of the people in Labuan as well as neighbouring Menumbok.

The finance ministry advised that the free port status of the island should be reviewed in the light of the rampant smuggling activities centred around it.

Raja Nong, however, said the review would not take place immediately as his ministry wanted the enforcement agencies like Customs and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to strengthen enforcement within  Sabah and Labuan waters.