“Herbert Foreman, PBS Kuli of Umno”

By Dr. Nicholas James Guntobon

“It is a sad day for Sabahans particularly PBS supporters now that Herbert Lagadan has tried to justify PBS’ support of Umno and turning PBS into a “kuli” for Umno with himself as “mandor” (foreman)” stated Edward Linggu, Information Chief of STAR Sabah.



STAR Sabah and Dr. Jeffrey’s cause is purely for the restoration of the rights of Sabah and its people which has been eroded by the Peninsular and the federal government and often, ably aided by Sabah leaders.

Not only has Herbert failed to understand or pretend not to understand STAR Sabah and Dr. Jeffrey’s fight for Sabah, he has failed to understand the rights of Sabah and Sabahans.

Does PBS acknowledge that Sabah is 1 of 3 nations that formed Malaysia in 1963 or 1 of 13 states as in practice now by the federal and state governments?

Does Herbert acknowledge that under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are equal to the Malays in the Peninsular?

Would the federal government (read Umno) approve the registration of political parties freely and not use the approval process to bar political opponents like Dr. Jeffrey and USNO from being registered?

PBS and Herbert has also failed to listen to the people on the ground who want change and a stop to the unfair treatment of Sabah by the Umno-led federal government, the “robbing” of Sabah’s wealth and resources of some RM36 billion annually, a paltry 5% of oil revenues and the importation of illegal immigrants as voters to prop up the Sabah Umno-led government and the land grabs of native lands and marginalization of natives.

Dr. Jeffrey was to join Umno as part of a plot to destabilize and break-up Sabah Umno but unfortunately the plan was thwarted by Dr. Mahathir.

It is apparent that Herbert and PBS has learned well from their “colonial” masters and the Umno ways in twisting and manipulating facts and adopting their bad habits.  They (Herbert and PBS) are no more than servants serving their “tuan” hand and foot obediently.

It is also apparent that over the years in BN, PBS has forgotten their cause to fight for their people and have become subservient to their “tuan” who are treating Sabahans as irrelevant subjects in a colony and 1 of 13 states far across the South China Sea.

Claims of Dr. Jeffrey being a cunning politician does not mean he is cunning or manipulative. Those words belong to Herbert.  Of paramount importance is the sincerity to fight for and restore Sabah’s rights and autonomy and a stop to the treatment of Sabah as a “colony” and making its people poor and dependent on meagre handouts while tens of billions from the State are siphoned off to the Peninsular every year.

If Dr. Jeffrey is indeed cunning and irrelevant, why would PBS extend olive branches on at least 3 occasions and try to coax and persuade Dr. Jeffrey to return to PBS?

At STAR Sabah, we would still like to believe that all is not lost on PBS and that there is still a little bit of time for PBS leaders to re-think and go back to their original path and platform to fight for the rights of Sabah.

If PBS and their leaders are truly sincere in wanting the best for Sabah and Sabahans, we will welcome them to join us and fight for Sabah against the marauding “invaders” and colonizers.

After some many years in the BN fold, it is clear that PBS can fight for Sabah from inside.  BN components outside of Umno have no say and things are evident when Sabah BN hardly held any meetings for 2 years and even then it is mere “sandiwara” for show as decisions are made by Umno without any reference or consensus from their BN partners.  

The calls for the RCI by the BN components including a 2012 ultimatum by PBS is a showcase of irrelevance of its partners and of Umno’s superiority over their irrelevant partners.

What will happen to our future generations?   If Sabah continues to have parties like PBS and leaders like Herbert continue, the hope for a better Sabah will be hopeless.

What is PBS waiting for?

Does PBS want to continue to serve their “tuans” from the Peninsular and let the people in Sabah continue to suffer and being the poorest in Malaysia?  

Dr. Nicholas James Guntobon, Deputy Chairman, STAR Sabah