Jeffrey: It is Adenan's victory

KUCHING - Sabah Opposition strongman Jeffrey Kitingan has conceded that local opposition parties in Sarawak, Star and PBDS Baru in particular, became irrelevant after Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem adopted their positions on autonomy and state rights.

“The Sarawak election results are a victory for Adenan and not the Barisan Nasional (BN).”

“In fact, the presence of Federal leaders in Sarawak, during the campaign, was a negative factor and became political fodder for the informal national political alliance.”

Jeffrey, who heads the Star Sabah Chapter, expressed optimism that BN’s victory in the Sarawak state election will not carry over into the 14th General Election in 2018. “At that time, national issues will become important.”

In reiterating that the Sarawak election results were Adenan’s victory based on the theme “Sarawak for Sarawakians”, he cited the Chief Minister’s stand on freedom of religion, especially the Allah issue, and his personal character which was seen as sincere and humble. “This attracted the voters and Christians.”

“The Chinese also accepted Adenan as a leader when he said that they were not pendatang (outsiders) and when he stressed that Umno was not welcome in Sarawak.”

Elsewhere, Jeffrey who is also Bingkor Assemblyman pointed out that in line with the “Sarawak for Sarawakians” theme, Adenan brought up the autonomy issue and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) whereby Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners with Malaya in the Federation of 1963.

“Adenan’s victory lifted the sentiments of the people of Sarawak on state rights.”

In line with MA63, continued Jeffrey, Adenan recognised July 22 as Sarawak Independence Day and made it a public holiday.

“He also wielded Sarawak’s autonomy in immigration.”

By William Mangor