KOTA KINABALU : 2020 represents perfect vision and can be the perfect time for the Federation of Malaysia to be restored to its original equal partnership between the then Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak (then including Singapore as the 4th partner with Brunei opting out at the last minute).
Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan said this in a press statement released today after his 2020 New Year message.
He in said, starting in 1961, the original intention of the Malaysia Grand Design was to merge the British Territories (Sarawak and Sabah (North Borneo then), the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, and Brunei and create a new Confederation of equal partners.
According to him, this was agreed between the British and Malayan Prime Ministers during the Anglo-Malayan Talks in November 1961 and announced in the British Parliament on 28 November 1961.
Unfortunately, the Malaysia today is not the Federation of Malaysia that the founding fathers envisaged and agreed upon, he said adding that the downgrading of Sabah and Sarawak as the 12th and 13th States of the Federation of Malaya masquerading as Malaysia was complete with the amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in 1976.
“The Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak become the equivalent of tiny Perlis which is only 1/90 the size of Sabah while Sarawak is almost the same in size to Malaya. To add salt to the humiliation, the Yang DiPertua Negara of Sabah and Sarawak were downgraded to Yang DiPertua Negeri. .As they say, the rest is history.”
In the meantime, unhappiness and discontentment has simmered and grown in the Borneo States, with reports that a slight majority wants their home countries out of Malaysia, he stated.
“Sensing the danger of the “Merdeka” movement forewarned by the last British Governor of North Borneo in 1963 that will arise is Malaysia is seen as a “takeover” of Sabah as a colony of Malaya, the newly minted PH Federal government made an insincere and weak attempt to amend Article 1(2) of the Constitution last year.”
However, let it be said that the proposed amendment did not restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners to Malaya in the Federation, he said.
This is due to the stubbornness of the Federal government in refusing the amend the definition of the Federation which is left untouched as the “Federation created by the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957” in Article 160(2).
The insincerity was seen by the efforts of the Federal Minister in trying to lobby the MPs to accept the definition of the Federation as meaning the Malayan Federation 1957, Jeffery shared.
“Now that the Minister responsible for Law has announced that another attempt will be made to amend the Constitution to restore the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak to Malaya. This is proposed to be done in the March sitting in Parliament.”
This is an opportunity to make good the equal partnership once and for all. To show its sincerity and transparency, the Federal government should disclose and announce the proposed amendment for all Malaysians to see and understand. It should not be done and shrouded in secrecy with the proposed amendment given to the MPs the day before the sitting, he elaborated.
“At the same time, to reflect the equal status of Sabah to Malaya and Sarawak, the Sabah government should recognize and acknowledge Sabah as an independent and sovereign nation on 31st August 1963. There is no need to declare Sabah’s Independence as this was done by the then North Borneo Legislative Council on 8th August 1963.”
An official recognition by the Sabah government is more than sufficient. If the Sabah leaders are scared and dare not do it, they could table a Motion in the forthcoming April State Assembly sitting for its recognition, he stressed.
“Time will tell if the Warisan-PH-Upko Sabah government is truly standing on its own or subservient to their political leaders in Putrajaya.”
“Its should also declare 31st August as Sabah Day and a Sabah public holiday just like Sarawak which have recognized 22nd August as Sarawak Independence Day and a Sarawak public holiday.”
With the official recognition as an independent State, then it can be truly said that Sabah will be equal to Malaya and Sarawak and can stand equally tall with Malaya and Sarawak, according to him, adding that eith it, Sabah will be able to exercise its sovereign rights and autonomy within the Federation of Malaysia without having to beg for it.-pr/BNN
