What do Sabahans and Sarawakians want?By James Chin, The Borneo Post Press (Friday, 4th July 2008)EAST Malaysia is very much in the news lately. With more than a quarter of MPs coming from there, it is generally acknowledged that they were the key to Barisan Nasional’s continued hold on power.
Since March 8, MPs and other politicians from Sabah have grown more vocal about the ‘neglect’ of East Malaysia since independence, making subtle references to the possibility that they could easily switch their support to Pakatan Rakyat if the federal government does not resolve their grievances.
There are several main grievances and their resolution may not be forthcoming in the short term.
The first issue is the date of independence. In the peninsula, independence is often taken to be 1957 when self-government was put in place. In East Malaysia, they see the proper date of independence as 1963 when the Federation of Malaysia was established.
Additionally, there is some unhappiness with the term Sabah and Sarawak ‘joining’ Malaysia when in fact Malaysia did not exist before 1963. For East Malaysians, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya came together as equal partners to form the Federation of Malaysia. Using the term ‘join’ implies that East Malaysia joined an existing political entity as junior partners.
The second big issue is the federal government’s commitment to a set of state rights guarantees attached to the Malaysia Agreement, commonly referred to as the ‘20 Points’.
Among the key points were:
• Islam’s status as the national religion was not applicable to East Malaysia;
• Immigration control was vested in the state governments;
• Borneonisation of the civil service would be a high priority and English can be used as an official language;
• No changes to the ‘20 Points’ guarantees can be made without the agreement of the Sabah and Sarawak state governments. A clause was inserted giving all the parties the right to review the 20 Points after 10 years, ie, 1973.
• The natives of East Malaysia would be on par with the Malays and other indigenous groups in the peninsula, ie full Bumiputera status.
Taken as a whole, the 20 Points, if read in their entirety, give the East Malaysian states considerable political autonomy. However, the public view in East Malaysia is that there has been considerable dilution of the 20 Points for the past 45 years.
For Sabahans, the issue of immigration control is widely seen as a joke given the large number of illegal migrants in the state. Depending on who you talk to, the number of illegals in the state is between 1-1.5 million.
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It has been many years the “Malay” has neglected the grievances of the Sabahans and Sarawakians. The “denial of service” attitude is the only way to hold the angered step children. Though Kelantan is secured by PAS politically, the “Malay” government still put their wide eyes at the state. He same happening to Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Kedah and Perak too as there are now the lost treasure of the pirates.
What was going wrong with Sabah and Sarawak? We have to put a little bit blame to those who were money greed. First, we should put Tun Jugah as the non-schooling “tuai rumah” for selling Sarawak to Abdul Rahman through out special agent, Cobbold Commission. He was then given a large scale of logging concession together with those who agreed to sale the land of hornbill. Sarawak was sold as cheap as a plate of dinner meal and a night stay in a cheap hotel in Malaya. Now, Sarawak has lost it oils and timber to UMNO in order to be saved from “communist” attack and Indonesian “confrontation”. We should not join Federation of Malaysia if we love the people of Sarawak. That should be the first thought of Tun Jugah. Somehow, it as always right when people say money is root of evil. The Aborigines, is now have no right to their mother lands ad they are declared as “stale land”. There will be no an Iban chief minister as the “ Malayism policy” allowed only “muslim malay” to rule over the state. Though Sarawak has less problem with illegal immigrants, most of the MPs are not appointed because they are not “Malay” though they are converted to muslim in order to enjoy the “Malay” supreme special rights. Though there will be more money to be added soon, Sarawak will never get the right answer from Badawi on the future of the state.
The Sabahan has to bow down to Musa Aman as the mindless Tun Mustapha Harun sold Sabah to UMNO with 1 unit personal Boeing and houses. Donald Stephen was killed at Sembulan, Sabah as he asked for Sabah independent in Labuan due to oil royalty issue. Harris Salleh was then being enthroned to rule over vast tribes of Sabah with primary two certificates. He was gunned down by PBS, the aborigine’s party lead by Pairin Kitingan. The political scenario in Sabah has no happy ending as the state is facing poverty and illegal immigrant. They are facing economic struggle as they receive less form the federal government. The government (under Najib order) is reducing the number of illegal immigrants in Sabah after SAPP was said to give no-confident vote to Badawi. Although it is seem to be the persuasion to the Sabahan, the long time wound has not been cured as the government has no answer to demolish IMM13 documents. The Sabahans are loosing their lands to the local developer (FELDA) as they are intimidated with guns and spears. The saga will soon continue on as the Federal government is busy with Najib and Anwar clown show though Badawi admitted that there is no problem with the current government.
The Sabahan and Sarawakians have to think now or regret later. If there is a chance to get independent from “Malay” government, it is now to voice it out or else we are just crying inside our closet. In fact, these two states have lost a lot in order to be independent under the “Malay” present government. The time has come to Badawi to examine the Sabah and Sarawak royalty to Barisan Nasional. The 20-point memorandum must be uphold so that the step children can be console after a long years of grievances. If not, we better consult for independent and out of the “sovereign” UMNO country since we are staying inside a small toilet in a big mansion.
10 comments:
what do you know about Malaysian politics young man? Have you ever read the findings of the Malayasian consultative committee findings on the formation of the federation of Malaysia? Have you ever read the findings of the Cobbold Commission which was formed to assess the views of te natives of Sarawak on the formation of Malaysia? It is always easy to accuse the leaders for selling Sarawak. But what would be the future of the natives had these leader not agree to the formation of Malaysia. Did you know that the colony ruled Sarawak from 1839 since Brooke came? Have you ever interview your great-great grand parent if they ever live and ask them how life was? Did you know that they would not even wear cloth, but cawat?
You are merely apeing what James Chin. Now I want to ask you were James Chin involved in the negotiation for the formation of Malaysia. All you know he was not even borned when Malaysia was formed. You may regard James Chin as a hero, but to me he is just a mudane political scientist with a great ego and with no moral values. He hops from one university and another leaving plenty of shits for people to clear whenever he left. This is because he is too egostic. He was not in good term with the administration of he University in Essex when he was a lecturer there. He bad mouth the other lecturers at the university. The same also happens when he was at the Department of Political Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea. Next he moved to Unimas and Swineburne in Sarawak. I don't know what happened there but he was a Professor and Head of Business School, but he left for Monash Sunway University. Now you can deduce what knid of person he is because he hops from one university to another. Now yoy conclude what type of professor he is. I hold no grudge against him and I wish him well in all his endeavour.
Back to your accusation about Tun Jugah, well, I feel it is very ubbecoming of a young man to have branded our hero as such. Had it not been for his foresightedness the Dayak would remain in the backwaters of Sarawak. Now you look back and see for yourself the achievement of the Dayaks. The first Chief Minister was a Dayak, the Second was also a Dayak. What would happen if we never form the Fedaration of Malaysia? Have you ever think of it? We might be fighting among ourselves. You and I would remain as headhunters, gathers and shifting cultivators. Don't you think so? The first state Secretary was a Dayak in the person of Tan Sri Gerunsin Lembat. But the problem with these guys were that the lack the administrative skills. Ningkan was not well liked because of his arrogance. Probably just like you, another guy with plenty of ego. Or just an empty tin.
Totally agreed. Sabahans and Sarawakians time to stand up.
Lets have a referendum in the both states and for the Sabahans and Sarawakians elsewhere. In the name of democracy, if majority vote to form new country as the best solution, let it be then in both states. If Singapore could freed itself from Tanah Melayu in 1965, the people believe that same thing is applicable to other exploited states as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
I would like to stress that JUGAH was not the only person who signed the agreement for the formation of Malaysia. There were others too and each of them was the representative of the different races in Sarawak. So it is cruel to point solely this MISTAKE on him. Timber!!!! ooo he didn't know that trees can be money. Sarawak was only colonised by the Bristish Government from 1946 to 1963 get the fact. Brooke owned Sarawak from the day he set foot here. He was the MASTER and OWNER of SARAWAK. That why the money used from his days to 1946 have his face and not the QUEEN'S. It was the SUPP, the first to fight againt the NEO-COLONISATION. But not has join the boat of neo-colonism. What ashame to mentioned with arrogant that our ancestor not using and clothe. Hai shit head in those days it was the accepted valves. We used clothe because we loose out to other people's culture. if we are the master race in ancient days and instill our way of life. then all the people in the planet will wear cawat. The chinese first wore silk and later the mat salleh wore it and promote it and now we imitate. So I say it is not right to denouce our inheritance and culture. And don ask me to wear cawat around. When you are in Rome do as the Romans do........ This is what I am sure of. If there is no formation of Malaysia. Sarawak can be a very great nation. We have the faculties believe me.
Anon, you must have deep hatred for James Chin. I feel sorry for you. you sound like you are jealous of his success. he did not mentioned anything about tun jugah yet you attack him on this issue. May God help you to get rid of the poison in your heart
Dear Anon
it is truly sad that you attack the writer rather than the issues he raised. you seem to know a lot about the writer, maybe you work with him before. it looks like the writer has moved on to better places but you are stuck so your bitterness....
Has the twenty point agreement have any relevance to Sarawak? It was actually Sabah demands and the demands are actually stipulated in the Federal Constitution. See for you self and James Chin did not know about the 20 point agreement.
The agreement was written for the main purpose of safeguarding the interests, rights, and the autonomy of the people of Sabah upon entering the federation of Malaysia. It was originally envisaged that Sabah be one of the four entities in the federation, the others being Malaya, Singapore, and Sarawak. However as times passed, Sabah and Sarawak has ended up being merely one of the 13 states in the federation.
[edit] The position today
There has been numerous calls for the agreement to be reviewed to take into account social, economic, and political changes over time.[2]
[edit] The agreement
[edit] Point 1: Religion
While there was no objection to Islam being the national religion of Malaysia there should be no State religion in North Borneo, and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo
[edit] Point 2: Language
* a. Malay should be the national language of the Federation
* b. English should continue to be used for a period of 10 years after Malaysia Day
* c. English should be an official language of North Borneo for all purposes, State or Federal, without limitation of time.
[edit] Point 3: Constitution
Whilst accepting that the present Constitution of the Federation of Malaya should form the basis of the Constitution of Malaysia, the Constitution of Malaysia should be a completely new document drafted and agreed in the light of a free association of states and should not be a series of amendments to a Constitution drafted and agreed by different states in totally different circumstances. A new Constitution for North Borneo (Sabah) was of course essential.
[edit] Point 4: Head of Federation
The Head of State in North Borneo should not be eligible for election as Head of the Federation
[edit] Point 5: Name of Federation
“Malaysia” but not “Melayu Raya”
[edit] Point 6: Immigration
Control over immigration into any part of Malaysia from outside should rest with the Central Government but entry into North Borneo should also require the approval of the State Government. The Federal Government should not be able to veto the entry of persons into North Borneo for State Government purposes except on strictly security grounds. North Borneo should have unfettered control over the movements of persons other than those in Federal Government employ from other parts of Malaysia into North Borneo.
[edit] Point 7: Right of Secession
There should be no right to secede from the Federation
[edit] Point 8: Borneanisation
Borneanisation of the public service should proceed as quickly as possible.
[edit] Point 9: British Officers
Every effort should be made to encourage British Officers to remain in the public service until their places can be taken by suitably qualified people from North Borneo
[edit] Point 10: Citizenship
The recommendation in paragraph 148(k) of the Report of the Cobbold Commission should govern the citizenship rights in the Federation of North Borneo subject to the following amendments:
* a) sub-paragraph (i) should not contain the proviso as to five years residence
* b) in order to tie up with our law, sub-paragraph (ii)(a) should read “7 out of 10 years” instead of “8 out of 10 years”
* c) sub-paragraph (iii) should not contain any restriction tied to the citizenship of parents – a person born in North Borneo after Malaysia must be federal citizen.
[edit] Point 11: Tariffs and Finance
North Borneo should retain control of its own finance, development and tariff, and should have the right to work up its own taxation and to raise loans on its own credit.
[edit] Point 12: Special position of indigenous races
In principle, the indigenous races of North Borneo should enjoy special rights analogous to those enjoyed by Malays in Malaya, but the present Malays’ formula in this regard is not necessarily applicable in North Borneo
[edit] Point 13: State Government
* a) the Prime Minister should be elected by unofficial members of Legislative Council
* b) There should be a proper Ministerial system in North Borneo
[edit] Point 14: Transitional period
This should be seven years and during such period legislative power must be left with the State of North Borneo by the Constitution and not be merely delegated to the State Government by the Federal Government
[edit] Point 15: Education
The existing educational system of North Borneo should be maintained and for this reason it should be under state control
[edit] Point 16: Constitutional safeguards
No amendment modification or withdrawal of any special safeguard granted to North Borneo should be made by the Central Government without the positive concurrence of the Government of the State of North Borneo
The power of amending the Constitution of the State of North Borneo should belong exclusively to the people in the state. (Note: The United Party, The Democratic Party and the Pasok Momogun Party considered that a three-fourth majority would be required in order to effect any amendment to the Federal and State Constitutions whereas the UNKO and USNO considered a two-thirds majority would be sufficient)
[edit] Point 17: Representation in Federal Parliament
This should take account not only of the population of North Borneo but also of its seize and potentialities and in any case should not be less than that of Singapore
[edit] Point 18: Name of Head of State
Yang di-Pertua Negara
[edit] Point 19: Name of State
Sabah
[edit] Point 20: Land, Forests, Local Government, etc.
The provisions in the Constitution of the Federation in respect of the powers of the National Land Council should not apply in North Borneo. Likewise, the National Council for Local Government should not apply in North Borneo.
Is it worth to have a referendun afterall we have election every five years and it clearly shows tha BN win since 1970 until now. You may say that the election is not clean, but why DAP still win a few seats. At the height of Dayakism in 1987 and early 1990s some Dayak candidates win. It is easy to accuse the government, but look at PKR government in Selangor, DAP government in Penang, PAS in Kedah and Kelantan, are these state government clean. In Kedah, the PAS governmenrt wanted to put the Fedaral government at ransom. In Penang, the state government want the federal government to pay them 7.4 million for the shelved project. The federal government will not give in because the Penangites have dumped them. The people are being ungrateful. Now you see hundred of worker in the electronic company were laid off, why did the state government not helping them. It was because of them that the DAP were in power. Why when they are in power they did not help the rakyat.
MADIS BENGOH VS NAIM CENDERA
Erik Wang who filed for Malaysiakini has a full report and here are the copied details http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85811 You make your own judgements…….
After the GE on March 8th the Sarawak Bidayuh MPs were in the news for various reasons that is unhappiness when their community were not represented in the cabinet,leaving BN and Joining Pakatan and now this Kampung Bengoh right in the heartland of Bidayuh community. It was only a couple of weeks ago PM was invited to officiate a Bidayuh function.
A group of Sarawak villagers, who successfully took out a temporary against politically well-connected company Naim Cendera Lapan from encroaching their native customary rights (NCR) land, have claimed they were asked by the company to sign dubious documents.
Naim Cendera Lapan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Niam Cendera said to be closely linked to powerful state politicians, has sought to extract stones from a mountain range, which is part of NCR land claimed by the villagers.
Kampung Bengoh, about an hour’s drive south of Kuching, has existed for more than a century, and the villagers depend on shifting cultivation for food crops and the harvesting of birds’ nests for their livelihood.
It is learnt that the quarry licence has been given to a contractor to extract stones for construction works relating to the RM365 million Bengoh Dam nearby over a period of five years.
The dam project was awarded to Naim Cendera, which in turn sub-contracted the work out to a Chinese company, Sino Hydro, for half the original contract sum.
Last week, the villagers won a temporary injunction to stop Naim Cendera Lapan from entering their farmland. The natives argued that the stone quarry would cause damages to fruit trees and other crops in their NCR land, located near the foothills of Gunung Rumbang,
It the latest development, villagers claimed that they were asked to sign a document purportedly requesting the company to repair the Sungei Abang bridge, build a fence around the primary school as well as a hut (pondok) for the local Rela, the controversial local voluntary security unit.
The villagers said that the bridge was not in need of repairs.
Village chief lodges police report
Bengoh village headman Kayis Genyai said he had refused to sign the document when approached on Monday night, and had yesterday lodged a police report naming the two individuals who had sought signatures from the villagers.
The two are fellow villagers - Henry Karas, a committee member of the local village security unit and Anyew Sawes, the Bengoh village chairman of the ruling PBB party and who also works for Naim Cendera as a watchman at its dam project site.
Bengoh villagers had gone to court after the company cleared parts of their NCR land for an access road to the quarry site, and in so doing destroyed their crops.
The affected landowners and the village head said they had not been consulted by the company in the quarry project.
Affected villagers had been previously approached on numerous occasions by company representatives to sign various documents.
In affidavits filed with the Kuching High Court on June 30, two villagers have detailed how they were made to sign documents after their lands and crops had been destroyed and alleging underhanded tactics in getting them to ink the documents.
When asked why he decided to lodge the police report, village chief Kayis gave three reasons:
MCPXcourt injunction
As headman, he was not even informed about the bridge repairs and other projects which were supposedly requested by the villagers.
If there were problems later, the villagers would blame him because he is their headman.
There is no information from relevant authorities that such projects would be provided to the community.
To blame the DAP for the "closure" of the factory in Penang is BODOH. There are other reasons why the factory goreng its worker. As has been known we are now in economic recession and that is the biggest reason. Other than that, is the federal goverment design sthat state won by the PR will suffer. Sarawak's KOMAC what happened. Ya it has change its name. But still it is sufferring financially and making a lost. Sarawak has few electronic factories and do you know how many people their goreng or not. Just because it is not in the news ...nothing happen meh. Pity you blind BN supporter
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