KOTA KINABALU: State Reform Party (STAR) is adamant that
Sabah is in a lot of mess and its development stunted because of federal
interference.
Its Sabah Deputy Chairman,
Daniel John Jambun said this to refute the claim by the Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Musa Aman who said that Sabah is fully governed by the State Cabinet
without any federal interference.
"The truth is the
Federal Government is having its finger in every important piece of cake baked
by the State Government," Daniel said. "In fact all the games of the
politics of federalism are still being played to monitor and steer the
direction of Sabah's political and socio-economic directions.
"Just look at how the
choice of the BN candidates for this election; it was with made with the
high-handed interference from Kuala Lumpur. It was done in such a domineering
way that BN parties here had to defy the Prime Minister in the choice of many
candidates."
Jambun also said that in
fact Musa himself is a beneficiary of this federal interference because he said
the appointment to his important position wouldn't happen without Putrajaya's
approval.
"Musa wouldn't dare do
anything he knows the Prime Minister wouldn't agree with," Daniel said.
"After all the PM is his boss in Umno. So Musa's claim that the federal
government doesn't interfere in state matters is clearly an election lie aimed
at appeasing the people who are complaining that their state is being in too
much control of Malaya.
"It's also a wellknown
fact that the Presidents of the BN components other than Umno are complaining
that their signatures to approve projects have no value without the endorsement
of Umno, and approvals for bigger projects would need the agreement of the federal
government."
Jambun then challenges Musa
to explain why, if the state can do things without Kuala Lumur's approval, many
things desperately needed by the people are not implemented as priorities by
the state government.
"Musa is obviously
dancing to the Kuala Lumpur's tune when he doesn't even insist on asserting
Sabah's position as an equal partner in the federation, and not correcting the
PM when the latter seriously erred by saying Sabah joined Malaysia and became
independent on September 16, 1963.
"In 2012, the CM led a
large scale festivity in Kota Kinabalu celebrating 55 years of Malaysia’s
independence and but said nothing about the fact that Sabah had been
independent for only 49 years then.
"There are
administrative action or inactions in Sabah which indicate that the State
Government's is in cahoots with big company's taking lands in Sabah . If Musa
is serious about the wellbeing of Sabahans and the state's economy, he should
have years ago admonished and pressured FELDA for not honouring its promise to
develop 306,000 acres of Sabah land which it took from the state, for the sake
of the natives.
"And shouldn’t the CM
and the State government be taking the Federal government and Petronas to court
to cancel the vesting of the oil resources ownership to Petronas that was
signed by Najib’s father, Tun Abdul Razak on 27.03.1975?
"Musa once said would
discuss with the federal government for a higher oil royalty for Sabah, but
this had been forgotten, perhaps on purpose, due to the Sabah government's
subservience to Kuala Lumpur."
Jambun who is contesting for
the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency under STAR's ticket, added that it
would be impossible for Musa to talk about Sabah's rights and autonomy because
of this subservience, especially now that it is rumoured he will be replaced
after this general election.
"There is no use for
Musa to sell the false idea that he is free from Kuala Lumpur's control as the
people know this is a lie," he said. "It is therefore high time for the
people of Sabah to have a new government who can demand things from the federal
government without fear for the sake of the long-suffering people of Sabah
."
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