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By Luke Rintod of FMT
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| Any talks between Malaysia and the Philippines must include Sabah because only the people of Sabah can decide what they want, says Jeffrey Kitingan. |
KOTA KINABALU: United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan has disputed the context of the 1962 referendum which academics and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak claim confirmed Sabahans’ desire to be part of Malaysia.
“There has never been a referendum on Sabah as stated by some academics.
“In fact, the so-called referendum in 1962-63 was actually only a sampling survey of less than four percent of the Sabah population,” he said in response to Najib’s comments on Sabah yesterday.
Najib said there was no question of Sabah not being within Malaysia.“There has never been a referendum on Sabah as stated by some academics.
“In fact, the so-called referendum in 1962-63 was actually only a sampling survey of less than four percent of the Sabah population,” he said in response to Najib’s comments on Sabah yesterday.
Said Najib: “On the question of polemics of whether Sabah is a part of Malaysia, I want to stress that the issue had been finalised in 1978 and Sabah is a valid region in Malaysia,” he said.
He said the Cobbold Commission had held a referendum and two-thirds of the people in Sabah agreed to the state being a part of Malaysia. The commission also obtained the recognition of the United Nations.
(The Cobbold Commission was set up to find out whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak were agreeable to the proposal to create Malaysia, made up of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.)
But Jeffrey, who also heads the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR), said the Malaysia Agreement which incorporated terms of the Cobbold Commission “is yet to be implemented”.
“Najib must realise that Sabah belongs to the people of Sabah.
“Malaysia does not own Sabah as the Malaysia Agreement is yet to be implemented. Sabah is not a piece of lifeless property to be fought over between the Philippines [Sulu claim] and Malaya.
“Therefore, any talks between Malaysia/Malaya and the Philippines must include Sabah because only the people of Sabah can decide what they want.
“The [Sulu's] Sabah claim, whether valid or not, must be resolved once and fo all by bringing all the relevant parties to the table within the ambitof Britain and the United Nations and find a peaceful solution,” he said.
PMs have failed Sabah
He added that “the time has come to review the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement and ensure its viability and survival by addressing the unhappiness of the other remaining partners – Sabah and Sarawak”.
Jeffrey also pointed out that it was vital that the federal government clean up the mess created by (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno in Sabah which had put Sabah and its citizens at perpetual risk.
“They made Sabah insecure by supporting Muslim rebellion in the Philippines and supplying them weapons, giving them refuge and training facilities in Sabah and, worst still, by deploying them as voters in Sabah through the ‘Project IC Mahathir’, despite knowing full well that the same group of people from the Philippines have unsettled claims over Sabah.
“To restore confidence, the federal government must clean up the mess. Umno should leave Sabah politics to Sabahans and local political parties.”
Jeffrey said the Sulu invasion was proof that Malaysia and successive prime ministers, including Najib, had failed miserably to secure the safety and security of Sabahans.
“Now that the fear felt by Sabahans has become a reality, Najib, as the current premier, must not only guarantee the security of Sabahans but he must also restore their confidence because security was the number one reason why Sabahans agreed to be part of Malaysia in 1963,” said Jeffrey.
He said Najib “has a moral duty to put things right” in Sabah.
“That is why we Sabahans supported the RCI [Royal Commission of Inquiry] as part of a necessary action to put things right.
“But that is not enough. A lot more needs to be done to regain the confidence of the people of Sabah who feel cheated by the federal government,” Jeffrey said.
Fully agree doc.
ReplyDeleteSTAR must get its own manifesto as a referendum.
Vote for STAR means self-determination and independent from Malaya but still in the Federation
Cobbold Commission was never a referendum. A referendum would need at least 60 % of the populations giving responses. Cobbold Inquiry interviwed just very small fraction of then North Borneo populations. Maybe less than 4 % of the population, you cannot call this referendum.
ReplyDeleteSo yes referendum now !
Same argument for Sarawak.
DeleteHow can 4% represent all the people? So what was Britain and Malaya's game?
But no need for referendum. Malaysia was illegally formed.
Just go for independence. Less involved with paper work.
Yes yes give us more ideas..
DeleteFalkland Islanders go to a referendum nex week whether to remain under UK or leave.. We too want it.
SCOTLAND HAVING AN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM IN 2014 AFTER 300 YEARS OF ENGLISH RULE..!
DeleteTHE IRISH PROUDLY SAID THEY FOUGHT THE BRITISH FOR 400 YEARS!
MAY BE WE CAN LEARN FROM THE SCOTS & IRISH?
LINK UP WITH THE SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE PARTY....& GET IDEAS FROM THEM..
OR SOUTHERN SUDAN & EAST TIMOR...BRUNEI & S'PORE!
AFTER 50 YEARS WE WOULD BE SILLY TO ASK FOR MORE.
WHY NOT TRY RULING OURSELVES LIKE BRUNEI & SINGAPORE.... THEY WERE TO BE PART OF MALAYSIA AND THEY ARE DOING WELL OUTSIDE!
NO FOREIGN MASTER TELLS THEM WHAT TO DO....
P.S. UK is prepared to let Scotland have a referendum..
DeleteUK helped to install Malayan rule over Sabah and Sarawak without any escape clauses because Malaysia represented Britain's plan to consolidate its interests in this region.
There was to be a review of Malaysia 10 years after 1963 but Najib's father blocked Donald Stephens' request for a review. Stephens then died in the mysterious plane explosion.
CM Stephen Kalong Ningkan was removed by UMNO when he saw through and resisted their agenda of dominating Sarawak as DM Stephens did.
Najib has declared that Sabah would be forever part of Malaysia. But if he has read any undoctored history books he will know that no empire far greater than Malaysia lasted forever especially if based on racism and apartheid. South Africa is one example. Malaysia is another one.
So Sabahans the ball is in your court!
Sabah and Sarawak should demand their right to leave Malaysia--It is a UN principle of free association. Kuala Lumpur has not right to bind us to its colonial chains.
Did not Najib falsely claim that there was a "referendum" in Sabah and Sarawak? If we use his argument, then if we were free to "join" then we are free to leave.
Malaya is 800 Km from KK and it will be like West Pakistam trying to impose its authority on East Pakisatan.
The Bangladeshis experienced the same issues of domination and plunder and they got out quick smart. They were prepared to fight and sacrifice themselves for freedom and independence.
Malaya can choose the peaceful option of getting out now before it gets too hot.
Bye Bye Malaya!
IT'S SCOTLAND OIL- IT'S SABAH SARAWAK OIL!
DeleteOIL seems to play a central role in the independence struggles of Scotland, Southern Sudan and also East Timor (the Aussies were planning to grab it off shore oil fields in return for its help to gain independence- bloody shame!) And similarly the same with Sabah and Sarawak.
Do readers note how swiftly Kuala Lumpur moved to take over Sabah Sarawak oil?
This issue was the main bone of contention between UMNO and Brunei which demanded control of Brunei oil revenue and oil fields.
The sultan was smarter than Sabah Sarawak leaders and backed out of agreeing to join Malaysia. UMNO kept quiet about Sabah Sarawak oil in their negotiations after losing Brunei.
The 18/20 Points do say SS control their resources and finances amongst other things. Although Malaya signed the agreements it soon conveniently forgot this and our leaders as custodians of our future were bought over by UMNO with small rewards for a major gain. The rest is history.
Wikipedia source says: (read the argument in the 2nd para)
"It's Scotland's oil" was a widely publicised political slogan used by the Scottish National Party (SNP) during the 1970s in making their economic case for Scottish independence.
It was argued that the discovery of North Sea oil off the coast of Scotland, and the revenue that it created would not benefit Scotland to any significant degree while Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom.
The SNP campaigned widely in both the February 1974 UK General Election and subsequent October 1974 UK General Election using this slogan. At the February election the SNP gained seven seats in the House of Commons and 22% of the Scottish vote, rising to eleven seats and 30% of the vote in the October election. The idea behind the slogan has proven to be controversial in discussions surrounding the financial viability of an independent Scottish state and still resonates to this day.[1]
The Scottish Government intends to hold a referendum of the Scottish electorate on the issue of independence from the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2014[1] using powers granted by Westminster using a Section 30 Order.[2]
The Referendum Bill, setting out the arrangements for this referendum, is likely to be put forward in 2013.[3] The question asked in the referendum will be "Should Scotland be an independent country?"[4]
"The Royal United Services Institute suggested in October 2012 that an independent Scotland could set up a Scottish Defence Force, comparable in size and strength to those of other small European states like Denmark, Norway and Ireland, at a cost of £1.8 billion per annum, "markedly lower" than the £3.3 billion contributed by Scottish taxpayers to the UK defence budget in the 2010/11 fiscal year.[56] At their annual conference in October 2012, the SNP membership voted to drop a longstanding policy of opposing NATO membership.[57]"[Wikipedia]
UK ACKNOWLEDGES SCOTLAND'S RIGHT TO LEAVE THE UNION
DeleteIf the bastion of imperialism can loosen up and let the Scots go for independence why can't the Malayans shake off their small time imperialist ambitions in Sabah and Sarawak?
East Timor shook off Indonesia's grip.
The courageous West Papuans are still fighting for theirs after 50 years.
Can any one say the Javanese looks like West Papuans in anyway! They a civilisation apart!
Sabah and Sarawak were physically and culturally a never part of the Malayan scene nor the other way round. They existed independently of each others.
Sarawak was an independent state from 1841 to 1941 - 116 years before Malaya became a federation. It was recognised as an independent country by the USA in 1850 and Britain in 1863.
The Sarawak constitution promised that Sarawakians would take over the powers of government from the Brooke Government. But it did not happen. Instead they got cheated and came under Malayan rule.
That is why UMNO history does not go into the details of Sarawak history. It does not want to keep alive Sarawakians' independent streak.
That is why UMNO does not mind Malayan opposition parties swamping Sarawak and dampening the independence voice.
Just a reminder. This is year is 50 years of Sabah and Sarawak "giving" to Malaya and they got very little benefit in return except being reduced to be the poorest state and for good measure got invaded by millions of illegals sponsored by UMNO. Another broken Malaysia formation promise to defend SS from foreign invasion.
Does it make sense to stay for another 50 years?
MALAYSIA FOR DUMMIES!
Please get oursleves Sabahans and Sarawakians grouped for our ultimate INDEENDENCE !
DeleteSTAR PUT MALAYA ON NOTICE INTENTION TO REVIEW SABAH SARAWAK'S COLONIAL STATUS IN MALAYSIA IN ITS AGENDA AND MANIFESTO
ReplyDeleteThis will also inform the people about how Malaysia was illegally formed against the people's wishes for real independence OUTSIDE Malaysia.
It is a contradiction to say that Sabah or Sarawak have independence in Malaysia.
Independence means a country determining and control its own affairs free from any foreign interference and dictate. In all aspects Malaya have centralised control of Sabah and Sarawak breaking its promise for Borneonisation. This is not have real self-determination.
Sabah and Sarawak were forced into Malaysia. They were denied a choice to chose independence and not Malaysia when the British suppressed the independence movement and as with UMNO transferred power to its chosen successors without any referendum.
The Malaysia Agreement was signed on 9 July 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak were still colonies! (Read the Agreement). When was a colony able to legally sign an international treaty?
Sabah only became “independent” on 31 August 1963 and Sarawak regained its on 22 July 1963. Sarawak was an independent state from 1841 to 1941.
Even a lay man can see that the Malaysia Agreement is not even legally binding!
The whole rationale for formation of Malaysia was based on a false premise that it would guarantee Sabah and Sarawak (and the concept originally included Brunei) security from foreign invasion" plus "prosperity".
Brunei as an independent state has not yet been invaded because luckily for it, their ruler chose not be part of Malaysia.
Singapore chose to leave Malaysia after discovering that UMNO was only bent on domination not “equal partnership” and it has flourished without much resources other than human power. It has not been invaded.
But with the ironcast British Malayan guarantee of security in Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak were invaded by illegals sponsored by UMNO and Sabah was invaded by armed Sulus whom UMNO recognise as "brothers". So all this charade shows that Malaysia has been a big lie!
The Sulu claim serves to highlight the fact that Malaysia was formed before the claim was settled. How can Malaysia be legally constituted in this respect?
UMNO broke all the agreements and guarantees of security it gave to entice Sabah and Sarawak into Malaysia. Having done so it abused the rights of this 2 nations and countries as unequal partners and turned them into colonies to finance the development of Malaya for 50 years.
So would any responsible Sabahan (or Sarawakian) "leaders" prostrate themselves before Kuala Lumpur and beg for 50 more years as vassal states in what people are calling the HELL HOLE Malaysia? These 2 nations and countries have been treated as unequal partners and turned into colonies to finance the development of Malaya for 50 years.
So would any responsible Sabahan (or Sarawakian) "leaders" prostrate themselves before Kuala Lumpur and beg for 50 more years as vassal states in what people are calling the HELL HOLE Malaysia?
SELF-DETERMINATION AND INDEPENDENCE FROM MALAYA MEANS SABAH SARAWAK LEAVE MALAYSIA and RE-GAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE STATUS PRIOR TO MALAYSIA.
YOU CANNOT HAVE INDEPENDENCE WHEN RULED BY ANOTHER COUNTRY!
I believe SARAWAK and SABAH should be given full independence and not rely on Malaysia anymore. If they can disengage themselves with malaysia, it's better off for them. Doing some trades with neighboring countries will do them good now. The have what it takes to stand alone as another friendly neighbors around this area of Asia.
ReplyDeleteI am a filipino who grew up in the North. I acknowledge having seen the problem of the South(Mindanaons/Jolo/Sulu/Tawi-Tawi etc) but it just came to light right now that there were some 'force' behind this troubles. Question arise, what if our 'war' with the muslim brothers never happened and peace were with us. Could we be seen differently by our neighboring countries now? Anyways, if a UN sponsored referendum will be held now for the Sabahans or Sarawaks....I will most and open heartedly support it. It's been 50 years of no peace in the South, I wonder what it will be if there is one?
ReplyDeleteUNITE AGAINST UMNO'S FOREIGN DOMINATION OF SABAH SARAWAK
DeleteYes this mini Sulu/MNLF war has opened up our eyes on a number of things:
1. Sabah's colonial status was never finally determined by being incorporated into Malaysia.
2. The legitimacy of Malaysia is now being seriously question.
3. Malaya & UMNO completely failed keep its promises used to justify formation of Malaysia. The fundamental reason given for its formation was that Malaysia would be a cordon of security for Sabah and Sarawak from foreign invasion.
4. Exposure by RCI of UMNO's role in jeopardising Sabah Sarawak security arising from the UMNO Melayu Raya apartheid system.
The Sulu/MNLF war on Sabah and illegal issue are linked to UMNO's apartheid system with its race and religion policies of social re-engineering.
5. The need for Sabahans and Sarawakians to unite and engage in re-examining their position in Malaysia and the question of de-colonisation must be put on all the local political parties agendas.