SABAH Progressive Party (SAPP) Supreme Councillor Dullie Marie today said the people of Sabah should be enlightened on the truth about the formation of Malaysia.
He quoted Datuk Karim Ghani, a veteran politician, who boldly stated, "If Tunku had said you form Malaysia, you (Sabah) become one of the 13 states, I don't think the Sabah and Sarawak leaders would have been so stupid to accept".
Dullie, who is also the Petagas CLC Chairman, referred the veteran politician as one of those responsible for the expansion of UMNO into Sabah but was surprised that he (Datuk Karim) was demanding and questioning on the position of Sabah within Malaysia.
"This is only after about 20 years UMNO controlled the political landscape of Sabah.
"Datuk Karim even urged the State government to pass a resolution in the State Assembly to affirm Sabah's position, which I doubt the State government will have the guts to do so," said Dullie.
"Another guilty party that owes us an explanation is the British government.
"Sabah gained independence from being colonized by the British on 31st August 1963 and two weeks later on 16th September 1963, Sabah together with Sarawak, Brunei and Singapore were invited by Malaya to form a nation called Malaysia.
"However, Brunei and Singapore later left the union, thus remained Sabah and Sarawak.
"The original intention of the 20 points recognised Sabah as one of the three entities (Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya) with its purpose to safeguard the interests, rights and the autonomy of Sabah upon entering the federation of Malaysia.
"We have witnessed how Sabah leaders were dethroned by the federal government's 'invisible hands', watched theatrical acts by our leaders and kowtowing to the powers of federal leaders.
"We faced the darkest moments in history when UMNO expand its wings into Sabah and their divide and rule tactics worked well to disunite the people based on religion and racial lines.
"I think most of us here would agree with Datuk Karim who said the question about what happens to the 11 states under the federation is their own business, and nothing to do with Sabah and Sarawak.
"Actually most of the issues in Semenanjung do not have any impact or negative effects politically in the State, but we have to be aware that because of UMNO's presence in Sabah, we could face their imported political culture of racial and religious discrimination into Sabah.
"We all know that race and religion has been the dominating issues in the Semenanjung which has never been an issue in Sabah at all because Sabahans has been very much tolerant and accommodative on these issues.
"The destiny of Sabah is in the hands of our people and their will for political change to remain a proud respected Malaysian Sabahan.
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