KOMULAKAN UPKO CONCERN OVER RCI

KOMULAKAN Upko yesterday expressed its concern over the non-announcement of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the extraordinary increase in Sabah population.

Its Chief, Ewon Benedick said Sabahans were getting anxious when RCI was reported to have been agreed during a federal cabinet meeting on Feb 8 but nothing official had been announced yet.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak did not touch on the much awaited RCI during his two-day visit to Sabah recently.

“The Political Bureau of Komulakan Upko had organised a survey through SMS asking feedback from Sabahans on how they feel over the non-announcement on RCI and we found that no one is happy, all disappointed,” says Ewon.

“We have sent more than 500 SMSes to respondents aged above 21, non-partisans and members of political parties, employed and self-employed, youth and retirees, more than 300 responded,” he added.

Ewon, who is also the Deputy Chief of Upko Kota Belud felt that such survey was important as reference for BN’s decision making process and for Upko to evaluate the level of support among the rakyats.

“Many are questioning the seriousness of the government in solving the No.1 problem in Sabah, and why it takes so long to formalise the RCI,” said Ewon, adding that further delay would cause more damage to BN because Sabahans are already getting angry over the passive respond by the government on the RCI.

“Some respondents think the delay is probably because its Terms of Reference are not done yet, but they are also aware of many announcements made before without its TOR being done,” Ewon said.

“Because of the non-announcement, some respondents even proposed for Upko to pull out from BN,” he further said, adding that such proposal was an expression of total disappointment among the respondents.

According to him, the respondents also questioned if the Political Transformation Programme mooted by Najib is really being exercised as many are of the opinion that the Umno-led government lacks political will in solving the issue of illegal immigration and citizenship documentation in Sabah.

“The sentiments among the respondents are clearly not in favour of BN,” said Ewon.

“As a young party leader, I can accept the reasoning given by my senior leaders and I wish to be guided in guiding my movement. But I think, we too, have to be guided by the sentiments of the rakyats. After all, we keep on pledging ‘People First’,” Ewon said.

He personally, however, believes that the PM would announce the RCI at an opportune time soon and suggested that a Sabahan in the calibre of Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak should be appointed as the chairman of the RCI. (BP)