By Remy Majangkim, MA63, Activist, Tutor, and Historian
KOTA KINABALU: I have noticed that in recent events, traditional political parties have allied with the specific goal of preventing Warisan from forming the next state government.
This raises a fundamental question: Is the previous Warisan-led government under Pakatan Harapan 1.0 so destructive that it needs to be stopped at all costs? And who is behind the initiative that encourages politicians to come out of retirement, and what were the motivating factors?
The Federal Government is facing high stakes as it navigates changes in Malaysia’s political landscape and economy.
The return of Sabah’s rights, notably the 40% revenue collected from Sabah, will redirect significant resources to the state that were eroded, dishonoured, and consumed under pretences.
Let me explain: the current federal government inherited a scandalous office after many years under UMNO. Malaysians voted out UMNO under Najib over his scandalous 1MDB. After the formation of Pakatan Harapan 1.0, it was then abruptly replaced by members of parliament who switched parties and formed a new federal government under Perikatan Nasional.
This act of betrayal affected the entire country, including Sabah, where similar betrayals occurred among their state legislative members.
Adding to the challenges, a global pandemic struck the world, and we all witnessed the country grappling with high levels of corruption and abuse of power.
However, the tide turned, and Pakatan Harapan returned to power after the general election. Fast forward to the present: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), once a member of Perikatan Nasional, is now part of a coalition with Pakatan Harapan 2.0.
All the while, Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 were ignored, lied about, and shelved.
Remarkably, Sabahans have observed all these events unfold, including the diminishing of basic needs being replaced with a formidable slogan.
As the cards shuffle, we see political parties forming new alliances and a new political party emerging from the dust.
In the past 10 months, under the Warisan-led government, they have proven themselves to fight for Sabah’s rights.
Their achievements have surpassed those of all parties before them. This is evident in their pursuit of returning Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.
It is crucial to prevent Warisan from regaining power, as this will result in a significant change in the country’s political and financial direction, which has been ignored since the formation of Malaysia.
It’s like a David versus Goliath story—the small versus the big. Or is it the other way around, like Gideon versus the Midianite army?
Who and why you are voting for is your privilege in a democratic system. It is your free will and the choice you make that will affect you and the state. Have a great weekend.
