United Borneo Front has called for all references to 'racial based dominance to be abolished'.
KOTA KINABALU: Federal leaders have been urged to erase racial references in the term ‘ketuanan’ and focus on first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s original call for “unity in diversity”.
In making this call, United Borneo Front leader Jeffrey Kitingan described the term ‘ketuanan’ as an old colonial concept of ‘master and servant’ that serves as a bitter reminder of British colonialism in this country.
Jeffrey said that it was regrettable that the term ‘ketuanan’, which agitates half the country, is used without caution and sensitivity reminding Malaysians about the oppression of the past.
“The term should be totally banned from political rhetoric, and all references to racial based domination of one race over another must be abolished,” he said in his Chinese New Year message yesterday.
Jeffrey said public holidays in Malaysia reflected the important festivals observed by various religions in Malaysia.
These holidays, he added, reflected the country’s commitment to mutual respect of the various races in this country.
“One would have thought that the study of these festivals and the world religions should have by now infiltrated the educational curriculum in primary schools.
“Otherwise, how is any Malaysian able to appreciate or comprehend the meaning of their often long and many public holidays?
“All of us should be able to explain the meaning of these festivals to tourists and outsiders but nobody is really prepared with the details. We end up looking like a nation of ignorant people celebrating without knowledge,” he said.
No tie-ups
Jeffrey also scoffed at reports that UBF had formed alliances with groups in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We have not formed any alliance with any parties or organisations from Semenanjung or Sabah as we are not aware of any of them making a public commitment to the Borneo Agenda or our UBF struggle.
“Some politicians though have privately and confidentially informed me of their personal commitment to the Borneo Agenda and we consider this to be a positive sign for the Borneo states,” he acknowleded.
Jeffrey added that UBF’s Borneo Alliance unites parties and organisations which subscribe to the Borneo Agenda and UBF’s seven core demands.
“The Sarawak National Party (Snap) has subscribed to our agenda and in this sense we consider them to be part of the Borneo Alliance,” he said.
He hinted that a political party representing the struggle of the UBF may be formed and will not conflict with the UBF as a concept.
“The UBF is merely a name given to a civil rights concept that loosely binds the movement of groups and people to a cause for the political and economic empowerment of Borneo.
“In itself, this concept is neither a society nor a political party.
“When people gather together in a tea party to celebrate the concept, they engage in a meaningful political discussion about this concept; a bit like a religious group gathering to talk about their God or a wedding party which talks about the sanctity of marriage, ” he said.
UBF will not contest
Jefffey urged people to stop thinking that the United Borneo Front (UBF) as a vehicle that would allow them to represent the people in cabinet or in parliament.
“As a concept, the UBF is popularised as a great moot point for debate.
“It will not enter the election as a party, have an elected organisational structure or collect funds from the public,” he explained.
He also announced that UBF will continue with its “Borneo Tea Parties” after the Chinese New Year and that he and his advisers and a few mentors will voluntarily train selected UBF protégés for political leadership this month.
Jeffrey and his two advisers, Nilakrisna James and Zainal Ajamain also attended the Chinese New Year open house organised by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) here on the second day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. (photo above)
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