“STAR Sabah is fully
committed to the United Borneo Alliance (UBA) and a united opposition including
SAPP, USNO and Pakatan Rakyat to oust the current Umno/BN federal and state
governments,” reiterated Edward Linggu, STAR Sabah Information Chief, in
response to the recent press reports of Richard Jimmy.
STAR Sabah wish to clarify
that while we respect Richard’s personal views, the press reports do not
represent the official stand of STAR Sabah.
Perhaps, his reports sadly may have caused some confusion and concerns
but we are confident that the people are matured enough to understand the real
situation. For the record, he is not a
member of our Supreme Council.
UBA and STAR Sabah has
endeavoured to build a strong united local opposition and had even extended
official invitations to all local BN component parties, who had sent emissaries
for discussions, to join UBA and work together to remove the Umno regime in
Sabah.
As for SAPP and STAR,
leaders of both parties have had many discussions to work out a joint
cooperation to take on the BN in Sabah with the ultimate aim of removing the
Umno/BN government. The Umno/BN
government has not only failed to defend Sabah’s rights and autonomy but also
failed to fight for Sabah’s rights and interests, amongst others, Sabah’s oil
ownership rights, a higher share of the oil revenue and fair distribution of
Sabah’s revenue collected by the federal government.
The Umno/BN government has
also marginalized natives and failed to uphold and defend native rights
particularly land and NCR and the rights and privileges of the natives as
enshrined under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and Article 41 of the
Sabah Constitution.
It is not surprising that
under the Umno/BN regime, Sabah has descended from the 2nd richest State in
1970 (after Selangor which included Kuala Lumpur then) to now the poorest State
despite the State producing some RM19 billion of oil and gas and contributing
RM22.7 billion to the federal coffers in 2011.
Many Sabahans have failed to
realize that they need to stand united especially in the forthcoming 13th
general elections to stand a chance of re-claiming Sabah’s rights and
restoration of Sabah’s riches which have been eroded and taken away since the
formation of Malaysia in 1963.
At the same time, STAR is
very clear that the Sabah local opposition need to work with Pakatan Rakyat to
topple the Umno/BN federal government.
Hence, STAR has always advocated working and cooperating with PR both at
federal and state levels.
It is sad that in trying to
jostle for a better position, local opposition leaders have bad-mouthed STAR
with the aim of reducing STAR’s growing support and influence.
Some opposition leaders with
NGO links even twist facts like STAR will work with Umno/BN when the truth is
that what was said was that if after the elections Umno/BN forms the federal
government, the Sabah government (involving STAR) will have no alternative but
to work with the federal government.
This is the same as the
present State governments of Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan who have to
work with the Umno/BN federal government although they are in the opposition.
Principally, while it is
ideal for local parties to contest the local seats, STAR has always adopted a
stand for PR to stand in Sabah with the common goal of toppling the Umno/BN
federal and state governments. This was
reiterated in a recent letter sent by our Chairman to the PR leaders in the Peninsular.
Of utmost importance is for the
Sabah opposition to be united in facing and toppling the current Umno/BN state
and federal governments. (STAR Media)
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