Jeffery accused of fueling racial segregation

Muslim leaders in Sabah dislike Umno and are skeptical about Jeffrey Kitingan's new local allies - Usno and SPFP - who comprise former Umno members.

KOTA KINABALU: The more Jeffrey Kitingan fights for Sabah unity, the more he is seen to be splitting the built-in unity Sabahans have always felt they had.

A few Sabahans are beginning to point at conflicts between his aims and his methods which they see as unsound.

The latest chapter of the United Borneo Front (UBF) leader’s plan to launch a new ‘local’ party today is being seen as a quixotic endeavour that is driving Sabahans into segregation along racial, religious and communal lines much like in Peninsular Malaysia.

Already overflowing with non-Sabah parties, the entry of the Sarawak-founded Star is being tagged as another controversial decision by Kitingan, the younger brother of deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the powerful Parti Bersatu Sabah leader.

Star, renamed as State Reform Party for the purpose of entering Sabah is already being seen as a Sarawak import which looks set to participate in the forthcoming general election with Kitingan at its helm.

Critics have been asking why, if the Harvard graduate cares so much about the state and his struggle for Sabahans, is he importing a party from outside Sabah. They see it as further complicating the state’s ‘autonomy’.

In the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), murmurs have risen over Kitingan’s agenda.

“He is seen by many as only interested in the Number One post in the state otherwise he would have been with local political party,” said a political observer.

The party led by former chief minister, Yong Teck Lee, has been accommodative to Kitingan’s aims.

As one observer puts it: “Jeffery (Kitingan) is somewhat pressured by people around him who are dying to be candidates. That pushed him to find a political party to accommodate his followers. If he had joined an existing party in Sabah he would not be able to place these hungry people.”

Sabah Muslim leaders detest Umno

Further muddying the political waters is the prospect of the new party forming alliances with the yet-to-be-reapproved de-registered United Sabah Nasional Organisation (Usno) led by Baharudin Tun Mustapha (son of the late Tun Mustapha Datu Harun) and with SAPP.

“Usno will find it hard to get registered while Umno is still alive and kicking in the state,” said SAPP deputy president Amdee Sidik.

“Umno’s entry to Sabah at the beginning was to replace Usno,” he said explaining the convoluted route into Sabah politics by Umno after Usno lost to the Christian-led PBS state government in 1990.

“Umno leaders shared the so-called struggle under the pretext of religion. Muslim leaders in Sabah who detest Umno’s presence now were originally from Usno.

“Umno’s presence itself was partly the result of PBS leaders’ narrow-mindedness. Pairin who held the baton then thought he could withstand the onslaught by Umno which eventually led to the downfall of PBS government,” said Amdee.

“Many Muslim leaders didn’t share then Pairin’s perceived views on religion and and also ethnic (superiority) at that time.

“Today, what is apparent, is that the struggle for Sabah has become more important,” he said adding the peninsula Malaysia political giant came to Sabah not so much for Sabahans but rather for its own survival.

“They must have foreseen that the potential of boosting Umno membership by granting citizenship to those from neighbouring countries and making these people ‘Malay’” Amde said.

Skeptism surround Star

Star’s entry into Sabah is being viewed with skepticism as the same ‘political unity’ idea which has been played out before.

SAPP sees itself as the sole ‘local’ opposition party in Sabah credible enough to lead the opposition. It is well organised with offices in nearly in every district.

SAPP has built their network steadily ever since it quit the Barisan Nasional in 2008.

Observers say the party has established offices in all constituencies it wants to field its candidate.

Another political party that has re-emerged with a new name is the Sabah People’s Front Party (SPFP) headed by Bahaman Anggap once led by former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh.

Many believe this is just another Harris ploy as he always throws his hat into the ring in every general election since he was unceremoniously ousted from office by PBS in 1985.

Another conspiracy theory making the rounds is that SPFP could be an Umno stooge created merely to distract waylay voters keen on joining an opposition party such as SAPP.

Rumoured want-away Umno strongman, Lajim Ukin, has been associated with the party for awhile.

The party according to a reliable source, has been busy recruiting members, a few from SAPP especially in

Tuaran district but has yet to formally open its headquarters in the city.

Politicking along communal lines

SAPP is believed to have been approached by SPFP leaders on the possibility of working hand in hand in the coming elections but it was also understood a few SAPP leaders especially the Muslim group are not happy with such an alliance.

A source in the party said SPFP leaders are viewed as old school with outdated political views much like those in the Usno group.

“They have a tendency of dividing up the electorate along religious and communal lines … SPFP would look after the Muslim Bumiputera, Star the KDM groups whilst SAPP is for Chinese community.

SAPP’s Amdee when asked was reluctant to comment but said his party’s struggle has always been non-communal.

In his view, Sabah has already created a record by having the most candidates participating in the country’s last general election and that mark could fall in the forthcoming one if politicians don’t follow their own advice of unity.