Sabahans need unity, not one-to-one

Comment - We have all heard about the concept of a ‘one-to-one contest’ between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and main opposition parties in the coming 13th general elections.  It is the most common aspiration among opposition sympathizers.  Many see it as a solution to winning the election against BN.

The concept of “one-to-one” has become a bastion of hope for those who oppose BN.  To the average Joe, “one-to-one” just seems to make a whole lot of sense.  Indeed this sentiment resonate strongly among the grassroots that a group known as Desah (Democracy Sabah) headed by Tan Sri Simon Sipaun was created and they have made it their goal to strongly propagate this concept to all the opposition parties.  This is such a commendable gesture, but will it work?

It is easy to see why “one-to-one” quickly becomes a favorite idea to everyone.  Obviously, five opposition candidates against one BN candidate would cause a “split-vote” among the oppositions.  So the case for “one-to-one” gets spun out of control simply because “one-to-one” is better than five-to-one from this point of view.

The view may be pretty, but it is not the least a guarantee.  There is no guarantee that one-to-one is the key to winning an election.  Past elections results have proven that we cannot rely on simply a “one-to-one” factor.  Even when we tally all the oppositions' candidates votes for a certain constituency, the opposition still had garnered less votes.  So the fact is the winner came on top because people voted for them more than they voted for the loser.

In some cases, the oppositions' votes combined totalled more, but after considering other factors, it would still not make any difference should it had been “one-to-one.”  Past results showed that there are no specific trends in voting patterns when it comes to the issue of one-to-one.  There are no significant indications to support the win ability factor of a “one-to-one” concept.

If this is so, why then do we persists on the idea of a “one-to-one” fight?  I can only think it is because of desperation.  So we must not be bog down with the idea of a one-to-one.  Things that are not within our control must not take up our time even if it looks so enticing.

There are other legitimate ways to win an election; such as a strong party with the right formula.  A party, with an good machinery, and a leadership who can win the hearts and minds of the people.  A leader who can unite the people; perhaps here is where we need to focus our energies.

The notion of “one-to-one” is also a flawed concept.  It is a concept every political parties have a difficult time to swallow because it is just not within the confidence level of a winning party.  Why stand for election if you know you will lose.  People become candidate because rightly or wrongly he/she believes he/she can win.  We cannot stop people for wanting to become candidate.  It is within our democratic rights to exercise our political aspiration.

Winning an election is all about trust, confidence, belief, self-interest, hard work, dedication, a good product, money, struggle, ideology, and all that good stuffs.  It comes in a package deal.  Not only one thing defines a winning strategy.  A winning strategy comes in various combinations and requires many talented people.

Hoping everyone to tow the line is rarely feasible in a democratic system.  There are other more honourable and realistic ways to win an election and one that guarantees a winning combination for Sabah.  That is for STAR and SAPP to form a pact.  A pact between STAR and SAPP guarantees 60% of the genuine electorate votes. STAR must be willing to work very closely with SAPP in order to maximize the impact of such political collaboration.

STAR must not lose this opportunity just because it feels confident that it can win all 60 seats.  Confidence and actually winning are two totally separate matters and neither are factors that guarantee a win.  Relying on sentiments alone, STAR on its own has less than 30% chance of winning even before considering its well-known management and logistics issues.

STAR Sabah must realized that SAPP have come a long way today and now commands a strong Multi-racial ideological component that attracts all progressive minded individuals.  People who believes in equality for all, people who wants a prosperous Sabah, and people who are fade up with the narrow vision of UMNO Malay supremacist and Malaya's ultra religious bigotry ideologies.

Sabahans want none of that!  Sabahans wish to join the list of developed countries in the world.  Sabahans felt that Malaya had pull a fast one on Sabah.  After 20 years of marginalization, Sabahans can no longer trust UMNO.  Sabahans today are poise to take control of our future.

People's views of SAPP today are vastly different from four years ago.  Today, SAPP is the new hope for Sabah.  SAPP holds a promise that would radically change Sabah into a prosperous country.  No other political party has ever done anything like what SAPP has done with its' future plans upon winning the election.

SAPP is in a position to immediately move Sabah into the right track towards prosperity on day one because of its pre-gov-planning activities and the quality and experienced of its leadership structure.  As I write this, I know of skilled and professional Sabahans overseas who are ready to come home to help build this country to greatness should a new government comes to bear.

No one can deny that Datuk Yong Teck Lee is the most qualified and competent person to lead Sabah out of poverty and into prosperity at this time in our history.  Do not believe anyone who says that Yong Teck Lee is not qualified.  If there is anyone out there among the top leaderships of their party be it UMNO, PBS, UPKO, STAR, DAP, LDP, PKR and others believe they are better than Yong Teck Lee than ask them to debate with Yong Teck Lee in a public televised forum where all Sabahans can watch.

I can guarantee you that very few if any would dare to debate with this man.  That itself is evidence of a competent leader and administrator.  Yong Teck Lee is the kind of competent Sabahan leader today that we critically need to catapult our country into prosperity to face the challenges of the 21st century.  We need change of government badly and we need this kind of competent leaderships to steer our country into a better realm of modernization and prosperity.

We in the Momogun community must take it upon ourselves to better and improve our lot.  We cannot wait and rely upon this bias government to have mercy upon us.  With or without this government we must strive to build a better future for our community and most of all for our future descendants.

Let us work hand in hand with a leader such as Yong Teck Lee to empower us with self-confidence and help realized our dreams for economic prosperity and happiness.  Our greatest friends are not based on race, but rather based on loyalty, capability, character, honor, integrity, love and care.

Another winning strategy for PKR-DAP-PAS is to stay out of Sabah completely.  Let SAPP and STAR work it out to form the winning formula in Sabah.  After all, an SAPP win is a win for the opposition.  It will be a win win situation for both Sabah and Malaya should this occur.  If PKR-DAP-PAS take the wise decision to leave Sabah to SAPP, It is like guaranteeing the winning combination.

Failing to do that is limiting their chances of taking over Putrajaya.  Although, we are in no position to tell PKR-DAP-PAS to leave Sabah, it is probably a wise move for them if their goal is to win the federal government.  Having said that, I doubt that would ever happen because of two things, pride and selfishness.  Mistakes are often made because of pride and selfishness.  It takes a lot of courage to put pride and selfishness aside.  I doubt whether they would be willing to put that aside.

If STAR takes the wise move to form a pack with SAPP, the other political parties in Sabah will become obsolete and none compete.  PBS with its betrayal syndrome will not even win a single seat and that includes the Huguan Siou.  Only a fool would vote for PBS!  And only a crackpot would vote for PBRS.  The only people who would vote for UMNO Sabah are the racist and the bigoted.

These are the sentiments on the ground and we cannot deny it.  Be prepared that UMNO will pull every trick it has up its sleeves.  This coming election is going to be a stunner with money politics going way overboard.  People must be vigilant not to allow money to cloud their final judgement.

No matter what is stated in this article one thing I can be absolutely sure is that change will occur in Sabah in the next five years after the election.  This is because Sabahans are fade up with the Malay supremacy tenets and religious bigotry.  Sabahans do not see a bright future with this existing government due to its narrow mindedness.

After 20 years, Sabah, in the last two years, holds the title as the poorest state and that is just among the federation of Malaya.  How did Sabah became the poorest?  How did we ever get poorer than Kelantan?

No matter what the newspapers and television news claimed about Sabah's economy, there is none getting around the fact that our people are living in poverty.  Over 50% of Momogun people are living below the poverty line.

They can sue the World Bank if they think it made an error when it states Sabah is the poorest.  They can sue the Malaysian statistical board when it listed Sabah at the very bottom of the list with 2.4 GDP.

The truth is this government of the day has lost all its credibitlity with the people.  The people can no longer give them a life line.  That is the fact and that will be the end of UMNO-BN in Sabah.

All the rush to show the people that there are developments and progress is a little too late now.  Perhaps they may want to extend the election until April next year so they will have more time to sway the people's mind.  But knowing the ideology of UMNO, which is based on race and religion they will never be able to sway the people of Sabah again.

Sabahans want a piece of the global prosperity experienced by other developed countries such as South Korea and Taiwan.  We see no future with a government who make it expedient to marginalize the momogun people of Sabah.  We must unite under the new hope of Sabah.  That hope is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

By Wilfred Gaban is Director at PIPPA – Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis
President of Kadu Foundation – An NGO dedicated to the health and welfare of the Momogun community