By Political Activist Remy Majangkim
KOTA KINABALU: In the past few weeks, the country has been embroiled in the Socks with KK Mart boycott, a call led by UMNO Youth Dr. Muhammad Akmal Saleh. His actions and reassertions on the issues remind us of similar antics by Jamal Yunos that shocked the country. Every now and then, we are reminded of the actions of a few and the blessings and encouragement from those higher up. A perfect choreograph action puts together the actors and storyline for the people to digest its negative with low vibrational value.
As the Sabah state election looms, there is a possibility that Warisan and UMNO will form a strategic partnership. In the political landscape, it is often said that there are no real enemies in politics but rather a convergence of political agendas working towards a common goal.
The common goal is to wrest control of the state government from previous administrations. However, it goes beyond that. It also involves managing our rich resources, which are worth billions of ringgit, as well as addressing our basic needs such as water, electricity, and roads. Most importantly, it encompasses protecting our constitutional rights within Malaysia in the context of the Malaysian Agreement of 1963.
So basically, the right people for the job are those who show exceptional records in managing the state and continuous effort in improving our welfare.
The recent boycott by UMNO Youth’s Dr. Muhammad Akmal Saleh of KK Mart due to a sock issue has sparked controversy. Following his statement at Kota Kinabalu IPD, many believe that his actions were intended to tarnish UMNO Sabah’s reputation, potentially indicating internal sabotage within the party, especially in the context of the proposed Warisan and UMNO partnership.
Strangely, the Madani government did not nip the problem from the beginning and let it slide for a few weeks. That leads to sporadic attacks in the country and the refusal of the Inspector General of Police to act upon them without any police report made against Dr. Muhammad Akmal Saleh. It is well documented in the media, and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim made a comment on the refusal.
Over the years, the popularity of UMNO Sabah has declined, and during the 14th General Election, Warisan emerged victorious in the Sabah State Election. However, UMNO Sabah still wields considerable influence in the state. While Warisan had sought collaboration with other political parties, it was outright rejected. As a result, the former rivals have now forged a strategic partnership by joining forces.
The Warisan report card shows significant improvement in the policy and relationship with the Federal Government. For the first time, after the dissolution of the Emergency Ordinance in 2011, the state runs a self-governing administration. It also manages to pay up the state debt that was accumulated during the last few administrations.
Numerous individuals are urging the Malayan-based political party to abstain from involvement in Sabah politics. If this plea is heeded, it would encompass all parties, including DAP, PKR, Amanah, PAS, UMNO, BN, and MUDA. The future presents numerous challenges and obstacles that will be influenced by the actions we take today, shaping a distinct timeline.
