Another spoiler party from WM?

Kita eyes seats in Sabah ... Former minister Othman Rauf who is heading the state-level branch is optimistic about Kita's role in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Former Umno law minister Zaid Ibrahim’s peninsula-based Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air Malaysia (Kita) has set up base in Sabah.

The state-level branch is headed by veteran politician Othman Rauf, who is a former federal and state minster.

Othman, who has been in politics for 40 years, said Kita’s expansion was in keeping with the party’s national level plans.

“It’s a new horizon in Sabah politics…. we will be setting up coordinating bodies at zone level in both parliamentary and state constituencies to prepare for the general election.

“Each of these bodies will have its own chairman. Recruitment of party members is a priority and an on-going process… I have a lot of friends in Sabah,” said Othman.

He added that the move to Sabah had the blessing and commitment of the Kita leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

“They have given us the freedom and full control to handle the party and government matters in Sabah.

“With this mandate, Sabah leaders will be given greater responsibilities and full control of state affairs,” Othman said.

He added that the decentralisation of powers would enhance ties between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

‘Sabahans must have more say’

Leaning towards the spirit of the Borneo Agenda as advocated by United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan, Othman said it was time for Sabahans to have “more say” in running the state.

“I think it is time we Sabahans shouldered more responsibilities and have more say in state affairs as long as we keep in line with and abide by the Federal Constitution.

The Borneo Agenda, which Jeffrey has been pushing since he quit PKR, revolves mainly around the demand that Sabah be accorded all the rights set out in the Malaysia Agreement as well as the safeguards contained in the Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee.

Jeffrey has openly said that he will work with any organisations, including political groups from both sides of the divide, which shared UBF’s aspirations to enforce the terms of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.
There is mounting anger here against the ruling Barisan Nasional and its policies which many believed have been unjust to Sabahans.

Despite being an oil rich state, Sabah remains the poorest state in Malaysia.

Soaring prices and allegations of widespread corruption and power abuse are creating, among others, new pools of poverty and dissent.

Alternative party?

Yesterday, Othman reportedly said that Kita in Sabah was positioning itself as a new alternative national party for voters here.

He said the Sabah branch had started its membership drive and has todate attracted 200 members.
“I thank Zaid and also the central executive committee for their trust in me.

“I am the chairman of the pro-tem committee in Sabah and as the leader of the party in Sabah, I can only say everyone is welcomed to join us.

“I can assure you that we will do our very best in carrying out the mandate given to us. We stand for democracy, justice, freedom, peace and progress.

“We believe in honesty, good government, liberalisation and fairness to all,” said Othman who is also the deputy chairman of Kita at national level.

Kita, a self-declared “small set-up with limited resources”, has establsihed similar branches in other states in the peninsula.