Sabahans must learn from previous mistakes

By Hj Amdee Sidik

BARISAN NASIONAL can’t form Federal Government after this 13 General Election if they rely on winning Malaya’s seats unless there is miracle.

They are now breathing via a support machine from Sabah and Sarawak, plug it out the red UMNO would turn purple.

Fifty years ago Sabah and Sarawak were depending on Malaya but now there is a little breathing space, foreseeable to get what we deserved but whether the people of Sabah are serious or a mere aramiti or again only in as far as Sabahans are sober, if they aren’t then more pilaks and more Mykads distribution on the offing designed for undeserved holders- this time, the end of Sabah’s dream of autonomy.

Some Sabahans still think that things go swinging like olden days. Let's hope the younger group could help reaching out those who think UMNO is party of God that never dies.

Let's be reminded there is no other better time to change the government than today, meaning a vote today is many times worth because it helps to kick out UMNO after the GE13; if people in Malaya wanting so badly to bury UMNO why Sabahans are still dreaming to die with it?

But let also thank to Internet for its role, without it we wouldn’t get as far as this in imparting information, big hiccup is still there, National Media-TV, Astro alike are mouth pieces of UMNO to confuse people, I say confuse, that’s the most government’s media could do as they are no longer a reliable information giver.

Let us divert a bit, Anwar Ibrahim made a grand mistake immediately after 2008 General Election, to many of us, even without the so called project of buying candidates to jump ship, which was so ridiculous the idea, in the end turned out a mockery to honourable profession, when some only a matter of buying time to fight against BN.

Next let us ponder this out ... this intricacy of politics, there is one thing we must learn quickly otherwise we miss the chance.

As of now, every leader is prone in making promises but remember how Malaysia was formed and what our forefathers intended to mean what they agreed, and what are the results today?

To put it simply, once these people get what they wanted, what guarantee that they don’t forget what they promised?

I agree to support the fight–my fight is for the people and my State first. The rest say you what may.

If the above is (I’m) still roaming around the bush, I would say this, for Sabah there is no better persons than Sabah people to look after Sabah.  We have made it very clear we support the PR de facto leader to become Prime Minister. Let the PR group handle Federal Government, we support them to conquer Putra Jaya but let Sabah’s politicians and Sabah local political parties handle Sabah as what Kelantanese to Kelantan or Penangites to Penang except, they are using national opposition political parties as vehicles.

Don’t tell me Sabahan aren’t capable to govern the State. Need no push button from federal leaders to handle autonomy issues this was the promised in the agreement made out in 1963.

Federal matters are federal, whilst states are state; reinstate Sabah’s rights that is all we ask for.

Some of you may be thinking, by pinpointing to one Sabah’s experience, that is none other than the era PBS government, where Federal leaders created all sorts of trouble to paralyse PBS government almost in any conceivable ways, for examples, court cases after court cases and leaders were detained under ISA. Once was demonstration on the street of Kota Kinabalu our State mosque was painted and crucified to make it look like created by non-Muslims when the real culprits were the Muslim leaders themselves? Sabah has its style of living harmoniously long before Korean Gangnam Style was even created, so to speak.

A few things I must also say now, PBS President was naive, and insincere or perhaps big headed in a wrong way among others.

PBS Government was branded as Christian Government, Malay leaders are allergic to this and still are, an example is the used of word ALLAH today.

Insincere in the way they treated the Muslim, no intellectual Muslim were recruited in the party machineries, if any a mere window dressing.

Other examples, the appointments of important departmental heads in the government and how State scholarship was distributed among others -that what people said in that days- those were the mistakes

Should PBS partnered with USNO that would make Kuala Lumpur think twice before they could wallop Sabah’s leaders and the progress of divide and rule would at least hindered.

World wasn’t as flat as today (Thomas Freidman) and spot lights is everywhere if for instance Sabah is to be punished for opposing Federal government and the world is watching more closely than ever. This would be the ready weapon if ever Sabahans and Sabah leaders are victimised.

Considering all these, let not be belittle of Sabahans -Sabah local political party are just as capable as anyone else to administer the State.

Throw away the Tidak Boleh mentality, which was handed down by the British to Malayan leaders and to me, only idiot would keep it.

Last but not least, assuming PR Government does this to Sabah Government in the future, they too have problem.

Hj Amdee Sidik is Citizen Journalist Malaysia, Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) & Director of Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis.