SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

By: DR EDWIN BOSI

IT is said that in politic there is permanent friend and no permanent enemy. The best example is between Pairin PBS and Mahathir UMNO. The distrust and hatred between these two men are well known but somehow they managed to patch up. In politic there is only one winner and that is Mahathir UMNO. Pairin PBS has sold his people (especially the Kadazans) to save themselves.

They continue to enjoy the spoils of the country while PBS supporters suffered and continue to make ends meet. The fall of PBS brought so much misery to thousands of people. Today, the Malaysian Natives of Sabah is lagging behind in all aspect. They are either deprived or lost the many opportunities including employment with the government agencies, scholarships, business and so forth.

For this the affected people must not forget that it was Datuk Yong Teck Lee and SAPP that provided the UMNO with the extra punch that toppled PBS from power in 1994. Interestingly, even Datuk Karim Ghani who together with the late Tun Datu Hj Mustapha helped opened the door for UMNO to enter Sabah and replaced USNO is now disillusioned with UMNO. Datuk Karim is now openly courting ex-USNO members to join Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysia is heading for a two-party system after the general election of March 8th 2008. The people have a choice of either electing Pakatan Rakyat or BN. It is unfortunate that the Batu Sapi by-election on 4th November 2010 is a three corner fight. The entry of SAPP is deemed by many as a spoiler.

SAPP is part of the BN family and having left the coalition it has now trying to portray itself as a Sabah-based party with a familiar battle-cry of Sabah for Sabahans and autonomy. Datuk Yong Teck Lee was a trusted and powerful PBS leader from 1985 until 1994.

Datuk Yong knows the weakness of PBS as a state-based party. He is one of the architects of PBS demise from power. Datuk Yong knows the pitfalls waiting for state-based party and he knows why Pairin and PBS have to re-join UMNO-BN.

The battle for Batu Sapi is on-going. Pakatan Rakyat must continue to be steadfast and impress upon the people that Malaysia is benefiting from a two party system. Here, even the minority race will have a say and be heard. It is a system that will transform Malaysia into a truly democratic nation.

The two parties concerned have the chance to govern the country. But for now, BN has been ruling the country for more than 50 years. The people can judge if it is a good government. The fifty years in power has rendered the BN government very complacent and self-centred.

The development between the states in Malaysia is not fair. For example, Sabah and Sarawak with their huge fossil oil and natural resources are getting a meager 5% of the oil royalty. The return is so little which has hampered the infrastructure development in the two States.

Pakatan Rakyat understands this predicament facing Sabah and Sarawak. To get a fair treatment from the federal government, the people especially Sabah and Sarawak must return Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya in the 13th general election. Pakatan Rakyat is now governing the States of Penang, Selangor, Kelantan and Kedah.

The Federal territory is controlled by Pakatan Rakyat legislators. Unfortunately, Pakatan Rakyat lost control of Perak through defections but this is only a temporary setback.

Sabah DAP therefore urges the people of Batu Sapi to look forward and see the bigger picture. They must not be contented with the many projects given out and promised by BN during this by-election.

The people should ask, why now? Why do we need to wait for circumstances like a lost of an MP to have development rushing onto our doorsteps? Father Christmas has arrived early in Batu Sapi. In view of this, the ordinary people who are suffering for lack of care and development may be praying hard to have by-elections.

Sabah DAP reminds the people of Batu Sapi to vote for Pakatan Rakyat. The Pakatan Rakyat has four State governments and their performance has been very impressive. For example the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang has turned around the financial position of the state from a deficit to surplus in under three years in power.

Our country corruption index is improving not because the BN government is doing something positive but because the four States under Pakatan Rakyat have practically reduced or eliminate corruption practices.