Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, President of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) while saying this in statement here, also said that without Sabah and Sarawak, Najib would be the Opposition Chief instead of being the PM today.
The Bingkor assemblyman pointed out that Sarawak’s 25 MPs and Sabah’s 22 MPs were clear kingmakers after GE13, saving and propping up the Umno-BN federal government.
“If not for the 47 MPs, Najib and Umno/BN would have lost power and occupying the opposition side in Parliament. BN would be holding only 86 seats, well short of the 112 required to form the federal government,” Dr. Jeffrey said.
“In fact, if the Sabah and Sarawak MPs had banded together and negotiated from their position of strength as kingmakers, one of them could have been the Prime Minister not Najib!
“Had the Borneo MPs refused to form the federal government with the Umno-BN components, Najib and his BN MPs and assemblymen including MCA (now called the 7-11 party, having 7 parliament and 11 state assembly seats) could have been forced to accept the post of deputy prime minister and small-time deputy ministers, a much better option than being in the opposition benches.
“As such, Najib and his current non-Borneo Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers should be eternally grateful to their counterparts in Borneo to be able to be holding on to their Ministerial posts until now."
"It is morally wrong to make it as if Sabah and Sarawak ministers owe something very big from Umno/BN.”
Dr. Jeffrey also chided the Borneo States' MPs for not pressuring their Malayan BN bosses for the immediate return of the Sabah and Sarawak full rights and autonomy. “Because of their lack of courage now Najib is taking advantage by using the matter to make the return of rights and autonomy as a big promise campaign for the GE14,” he said, “And knowing Putrajaya’s record of ‘forgetting’ election promises, the BN MPs from the Borneo states should be more vocal lest we be played out again and again.
“Had they played out their proper role by standing up to their UMNO/BN counterparts on behalf of their home nations which voted for them, today, they would be standing tall and proud.
Our leaders, even after the missed opportunity with Singapore’s ouster from the federation, are yet to learn to put their feet down and grab windows of opportunity to give the Borneo states that rare opportunity for greater position in the federation,” Dr. Jeffrey added. “Because of this weakness, they only became subservient servants of the Umno-Malayan leaders and merely accepted their ministerial positions gladly, reluctant to do what could have change history.”
He added that with PRU-14 just around the corner, Sabahans and Sarawakians have another opportunity to elect their new MPs.
“When casting their votes, Sabahans and Sarawakians should remember to vote for candidates who are non-BN and non-subservient to their Malayan political masters but for those parties who are genuinely seeking to restore the rights and interests of the Borneo States and prepared to stand up to the Umno-Malayan leaders."
“Sabahans and Sarawakians should also remember that Umno-BN is now the Federal, Sabah and Sarawak governments and their promises to restore the Rights of the Borneo States in their Manifesto are worthless. They are not even worth the paper they are printed on because if they cannot even implement them while they are in government now, there is no likelihood that they will be honoured after PRU-14,” he concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment