By: JOE FERNANDEZ
FORMER PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan let down his supporters “gently” at a dinner function on Sunday night when they demanded that he set up and lead a new political party to translate the Borneo Agenda into action. The Borneo Agenda touches on the unfulfilled rights of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.
The function at Jeffrey’s house in Likas here was supposed to be a pre-Tadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) event. However, it turned into an impromptu political dialogue for Jeffrey after he was asked by his supporters to update them on the direction for their political activities.
“If someone wants to set up a political party, I will not stand in the way,” said Jeffrey who dismissed the idea of him heading any such forum for now.
“Eventually, the Borneo Agenda movement as expressed in our numerous Borneo tea party functions will have to find expression in some sort of political movement.”
He disclosed that various Borneo tea party activities had already been lined up for the duration of May which will culminate in the Tadau Kaamatan on May 30 and 31. The first will be in Ranau this morning. The Borneo tea parties are an initiative under a committee, the United Borneo Front (UBF), within the Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) headed by Jeffrey.
Jeffrey also said that the Common Interest Group Malaysia (CigMA) under Daniel John Jambun could explain the Borneo Agenda at international forums. Jeffrey is adviser to the ad hoc apolitical movement and the Human Rights Foundation Malaysia, the London-based mothership.
Between the Borneo tea parties–the first or village/state phase–and the international initiatives–the third phase–would be the second or political phase at the state/national levels, he added.
“This is where Jambun and others can start the process of political mobilisation,” he said.
Jeffrey’s explanation on the Borneo tea parties did not appear to satisfy his supporters who renewed, from numerous angles, the demand for a new political party “headed by a credible person like Jeffrey”.
Asked what they would do without a political party if the general election was called tomorrow, Jeffrey said: “In that case, I would not tell you who to vote for.”
Political equation
Speaker after speaker from the dialogue floor went on to reiterate the importance of setting up a new political party to cater for those who had quit PKR, following in Jeffrey’s footsteps, since January this year. They signalled, in no uncertain terms, that they felt stranded “and naked” without a political party of their own.
“We keep coming back to the same subject of forming a new political party,” said Jeffrey. “The struggle for change and reform is more important than party politics.”
The former PKR de facto chief in Sabah and Sarawak pointed out that the political party system had failed Sabah and Sarawak over the last 50 years.
He did not see how setting up a new political party will change the political equation created by Putrajaya extending its Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) Umno to Sabah and Sarawak.
“Our problem is Umno staying in Sabah and perhaps soon entering Sarawak,” said Jeffrey. “This is what we have to focus on instead of worrying about a political party to join the others in a crowded field.”
The key, according to Jeffrey, is to take away several seats from Umno in Sabah so that a new political equation emerges in the state.
If Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman can help translate the Borneo Agenda into action, Jeffrey added, he sees no reason why he should set up a new political party.
He said that he did not want anyone to continue flogging the theme that he was only focused ‘egoistically’ on heading his own political party and being the chief minister of Sabah.
‘King of Frogs’
Already, Jeffrey said, he is being accused of being the ‘King of Frogs’ after moving through several parties since joining and leaving Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) within a month in 1994.
He reminded the gathering that he had been through various political parties, consistently raising Sabah and Sarawak issues, but failed to make any headway. One result was his detention under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) for two terms in the early 1990s.
His last attempt for Sabah and Sarawak, he said, was through PKR which rejected his quit letter the first time and refused to discuss it the second time.
He has since considered himself as being out of the party–‘another platform for Ketuanan Melayu’ –despite continuing attempts to woo him back.
“Let’s not be distracted from the cause by party politics,” said Jeffrey. “We have no quarrel with the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN), except with Umno, and we have no quarrel with the opposition parties–they are all locals–except those who want to promote Ketuanan Melayu.”
The role of the Sabah BN and the opposition parties in supporting the Borneo Agenda, said Jeffrey, could not be underestimated or dismissed outright.
Dr Nicholas Guntabon from Keningau cautioned Jeffrey against allowing the Sabah BN parties to benefit from his Borneo tea parties.
“We are not here to benefit the Sabah BN parties like the United PasokMomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko),” said Guntabon. “The benefits of the Borneo tea parties must be realised by our own political party when it is set up.”
It’s not known why Guntabon did not mention PBS as one of the Borneo tea party beneficiaries but it may be because it is headed by Joseph Pairin, Jeffrey elder brother in politics.
Guntabon, according to those in the know, had a reason for bringing up the issue. It is being speculated that he heads the proposed Sabah People’s Congress which is yet to submit its application for registration. He reportedly wants Jeffrey to bless his initiative and agree to eventually head the party.
Jambun, who earlier also briefed the function as CigMA chairma on his recent trip to Europe on the Borneo Agenda, conceded on the sidelines that people in the kampungs were ‘politically confused’.
“They understand the Borneo Agenda but keep saying that they don’t know who to vote for since we don’t have a political party,” said Jambun. “We don’t know how we are going to politically mobilise the masses without a vehicle in place.”
It has also been learnt that Kita, headed by former Pakatan Rakyat chairman Zaid Ibrahim, expanded to Sabah two months ago as an independent local chapter after some former PKR Barunai (Brunei Malay) members took the initiative. It will make an official announcement on its presence in Sabah once Jeffrey decides on the form of his own political vehicle.
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