By Remy Majangkim
KOTA KINABALU:As Sabah gears up for its pivotal state election (PRN) this year, two rival forces are locked in a tense dance: the current State government and the opposition.
Amid the crowded field of local and Malayan-based parties, Warisan, a homegrown contender, rose above the fray.
For 22 months, Warisan steered the state until the political storm of the “Langkah Sheraton” swept across the nation, ushering in a backdoor government under Perikatan Nasional (PN), a coalition from the peninsula, and a COVID-19 lockdown.
Former Warisan members, now part of the ruling State Government, told local dailies that Warisan did not do much about the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
They emphasised that the current State Government has achieved more than the Warisan Government ever did.
Yet which concrete MA63 gains do they cite? As an observer and activist for MA63, her insertion has no basis whatsoever.
Warisan has achieved more than any other political party in Sabah since 1985.
After the “silent riot” of 1986, many people felt discouraged, demoralized, and ultimately obediently followed the Federal Government’s decisions.
Our local leaders, then and now, have been playing both sides while silently becoming a vassal state to the Federal Government, and it has reached its zenith today.
The former Prime Minister Najib Razak lifted the emergency ordinance in 2011, which encouraged Sabahans to start asking questions about their rights under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
This move reactivated discussions surrounding constitutional articles, including Articles 1(3), 1(4), and 2(b), each of which delineates aspects of state and federal responsibilities and rights, providing impetus to re-examine Sabah’s status and role within the federation.
Warisan took the first step in reclaiming these rights after winning the 2018 State Election.
In the context of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak, Singapore, and the Federation Malaya formed a federation to be called Malaysia.
We never joined anything, as this would make us a lesser state and subservient to others. However, the declaration of Singapore to leave the federation in 1965 chronologically got its independent bills from the British Parliament in the form of the Singapore Act 1966, not from Malaya.
As they had attempted through the Malaya and Singapore Treaty (no 8206) in 1965.
Is the agreement still valid after Singapore’s exit? Yes, it does because the agreement is a multi-lateral agreement with a minimum of three signatories.
As an equal partner in Malaysia, we have certain provisions in the agreement unique to Sabah, and also a responsibility as a trustee of Malaya to uphold our end.
Let us stand firm, honoring our rights and commitments, and ensure that Sabah’s voice resonates powerfully on the stage of our nation’s future.
For the past 22 months in power, the Warisan Government has consistently upheld our constitutional rights. For the first time, we felt relieved that the Federal Government sees Sabahans as equals and not just one of the 13 States.
The first MA63 steering committee, headed by then PM Tun Dr Mahathir, has successfully attained 17 out of 21 requests from the Warisan Government. The remaining contentious issues are the oil and gas from our continental shelf.
The most prominent effort done by the Warisan Government was to polish the definition of “Continental Shelf” in the Sabah Land Ordinance.
This amendment was done silently in 2018; the end result was a clear definition of our continental shelf.
Any attempt by the federal government to explore our continental shelf must have approval from the State of Sabah. Remember, Sabah has two Continental shelves, one located in the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea.
The implementation of the Petroleum Tax by the State Government in 2020 has significant role in the State.
As of March this year, Sabah has collected a total of RM 7.36 billion. This is a significant progress in tax collection from Petronas.
According to data, Warisan’s administration increased development spending by 15% over previous governments, and autonomy milestones achieved include securing greater control over state natural resources and implementing a state-specific education policy, marking a significant departure from past subservience.
The GRS Government is basically riding on the achievements done by Warisan.
In fact, Sabah has surpassed Sarawak in reclaiming its rights in 2020, but now we are left way behind.
The razzle-dazzle of the GRS government was plagued with inconsistency, incompetence, corruption, and a clear Malayan intervention in our State affairs.
The only one that stood tall for the slogan “Sabah for Sabahan” is Warisan. So let us rethink, research, and decide wisely. Make your vote count.
