Give unity where unity is due

SAPP is a Multi-Racial party whose struggles started long before STAR was born. The difference between SAPP and STAR is that we are a new breed of ideological proponents composing of people who believe in a certain ideology much in tune with the modern day era.

Without preference to any race or religion, SAPP struggles for equality for all. Only when everyone are treated equality can there be true peace and prosperity.

As the saying goes in America, "All men are created equal." We believe in freedom and the democratic principles. We believe in the separation of religion and politics. We believe in destroying the culture of corruption by facing it squarely. We believe that only with this fundamental respect for the human condition can Sabah truly be governed efficiently and fairly; where everyone can get a piece of the pie. Where everyone can have a dream and follow that dream wherever it may take him or her.

People who support SAPP are people who had a vision of a great country; people who are confident and sure of themselves; people who genuinely care for the people of Sabah. People who sees the goodness in Sabah and how we wish the next generation can experience such wonders and glamour that the world can offer.  People who believe the world can be a better place and most of all people who has the solution to our problems.

We have long be dogged by PTI, PATI and the marginalization of our people by an unscrupulous regime led by UMNO. Our solution, which we will implement to bring a new dawn to our nation is SABAH IC and AUTONOMY.

We can honour the spirit of Malaysia by respecting the original intent of our Malaysian agreement in 1963, which basically is a 1 country, 2 system form of government.

Malaya cannot continue to treat us with disdain. Malaya must own up to humanity's integrity by acknowledging our pain and respecting our wishes. Malaya cannot continue to use deceit and malicious intent to subjugate us into appeasement. We want to meet the modern world. We want to join the global world where we can perhaps join the exploration of Mars.

We cannot be left behind like in the medieval ages or the colonial days. Malaya cannot force us to follow their Islamic ways. Malaya must understand our humanity's plea. If not, than there will never be peace in our world because we are a determined people who holds high the meaning of pride and honour and the promise of a beautiful world that is inclusive of all version of the human condition.

STAR is fighting for a similar goal, but it defeats itself in the offing by advocating racial segregation. We can no longer subscribe to the old style racial segregation politics where the end of conflict will never be within reach.

We want the KDM to be empowered and be able to live their dreams just as we want the Chinese or the Bajaus to realize their own dreams. Our world is big enough to fit everyone. We need a formula that is fair and perfect for all. We need to judge a person based on the quality of his or her character rather than by its religious affiliation or racial groups.

No one must have the right to subjugate another. That is why we say no to “Ketuanan Melayu” and no to religious of any version or type in government. Such is an old concept fit for the middle ages, but never for our generation and the generation to come.

STAR cannot play the same game as the loony’s in UMNO “Ketuanan Melayu” ignors. STAR could have focused on unity and could have joined hands with SAPP to form a strong Sabah based political party, but it or its leaders choose to remain separate, push their ego, and instead promote ketuanan KDM to claim as the rightful heir to Sabah's ruling class. Those are rendering mind set stuck from the past.

Today, we must fast forward to catch the train to prosperity and build a great country where we all can unite and form a great civilization without racial and religious threats. We cannot afford to follow in the footsteps of Middle-Eastern countries where people live constantly in fear, violence, and the everlasting degradation of the human condition. We cannot allow Sabah to fall into that scheme of things.

STAR must grow up. STAR Sabah was just formed a few months ago and now it is making threats and demanding everyone to toe its line. Like an ignorant person telling the educated how to use the toilet. Its member activists acting like little racist rednecks calling SAPP a Chinese party just because its president is of Chinese ancestry. So if the president is a Bajau, will they be calling SAPP a Bajau party?

Such name calling arguments are an indication of how lacking STAR is. I do not wish to belittle STAR, but its’ actions lately has been highly biased and unwised.  STAR must embraced what is right in character and principles or it will not sustain as a true political party.

STAR should not get hooked on the idea of being a king maker less it wishes to follow the rainbow. It is wiser to make friends with a friend than a stranger for a friend will share your emotion. SAPP is a big brother to STAR why not give a little respect to big brother. Give unity where unity is due. Unity without character and principles are meaningless. May God bless us all!

By Wilfred Gaban, President of Kadu Foundation – An NGO dedicated to the health and welfare of the Momogun community