STATE REFORM PARTY (STAR) SABAH: Gag Order proves Govt Incapable of Governing - YB DATUK DR. JEFFREY KITINGAN

YB Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan is the Chairman of STAR Sabah and State Assemblymen for N33, Bingkor, Sabah.

He also contested in P180, Keningau garnering 11900 strong votes

KOTA KINABALU - “The announcement that the Cabinet Ministers are gagged and not allowed to speak pertaining to the use of the word “Allah” and that only the PM can speak is not surprising.  Added the silence of Najib himself and they only add to the growing perception that the government is floundering and incapable of governing” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in commenting on the gag order issued to all Cabinet ministers pertaining to the use of the word "Allah".

It will also not be surprising if the PM and his Cabinet is asked to step down and hand over to a new Prime Minister with his new Cabinet.

“What does the gag order mean?” rused Dr. Jeffrey.

In April 2011, the PM himself signed the 10-Point solution in which Bibles in all languages including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia were freely allowed.   It means that the use of the word “Allah” was not an issue and more specifically Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia were at liberty to be used.

The 10-Point was a decision of the Cabinet, the highest authority of government in the land.

“Is it not a Cabinet decision that was meant to be implemented and enforced and followed by the government and its agencies” added Dr. Jeffrey.

“Why then the Bible raid?” “Why are the Bibles still retained and not returned to the Bible Society?” and “Why the gag order?”

“Does it mean that the Cabinet no longer respect and will no longer honour the 10-Point?

The logical interpretation of the gag order means that the 10-Point is no longer valid and the Cabinet no longer respect the 10-Point which was intended to be a political gimmick in the run-up to GE-13 to hoodwink and mislead the Christian voters in Sabah and Sarawak in the election.  If it was still as good as law, there is no necessity to gag the Ministers because the 10-Point is clear and unequivocal.  There is nothing wrong with the contents of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia and the Bible raid should not have occurred.

If the PM and his Cabinet is serious in preserving peace and harmony amongst the various races and religions, the 10-Point should override the 1984 Ministerial Order.   If so, the said Order of the Home Minister banning the use of the word “Allah” should be revoked.

However, given the voice of the right wing and the extremists and religious zealots against the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims, the gag order also means that the PM and his Cabinet is weak and unable to stand up for all Malaysians who are non-Muslims.   This is probably the reason why the PM is unable to state his stand on the issue.  He is not the PM for all Malaysians.

For the other non-Umno components in the Cabinet and the BN, it also means that they are spineless and are mere followers.  They are not fit to be in the Cabinet and together with their Umno counterparts, they have no business governing all Malaysians.

The question now is “Will the incapable government descend into an evil government?” in the words of Eric Hoffer “No matter how noble the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life and breed ill-will and suspicion – it is an evil government” in the Passionate State of Mind, 1954.

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STATE REFORM PARTY (STAR) SABAH: Ex-DAP Leaders should re-align and fight for Sabah Rights - YB DATUK DR. JEFFREY KITINGAN

YB Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan is the Chairman of STAR Sabah and State Assemblymen for N33, Bingkor, Sabah.

He also contested in P180, Keningau garnering 11900 strong votes

KOTA KINABALU - “Whatever is the cause, the departing DAP leaders should re-align and re-focus their political aim towards assisting in the fight for the restoration of Sabah rights and autonomy including regaining Sabah’s oil and gas resources” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in commenting on the resignations of several ex-DAP leaders and their supporters.

Sabahans should no longer rely on parties and leaders from the Peninsula to champion the cause for Sabah.   Their priorities are not Sabah’s priorities and their agenda to gain power in Putrajaya does not necessarily entail Sabah’s agenda.   In fact, some of their priorities and agenda are conflicting to Sabah’s.

The federation of Malaysia is not a standardized and homogenous federal-state relationship for the 11 States in the Peninsula and for Sabah and Sarawak.  This is because Sabah and Sarawak are equal to Malaya not the States in Malaya. 

It’s a 2-tier federation, the lower tier being the federation of Malaya with 11 States and the higher tier between Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.   As a result, a simplified two-party system will extinguish the rights and autonomy of Sabah and leaving Sabah and Sarawak as the 12th and 13th States forever.

At the moment, the Chinese community in Sabah are more focused on their business and career interests and are not strong advocates or supporters of Sabah’s rights and autonomy.   They need to join the fight to seek the return of Sabah’s oil and gas resources.  It is not acceptable to Sabahans for Petronas to be vested all of Sabah’s oil and gas resources and giving 5% of the revenue when it is exploited.

Whatever the reasons for their disinterest in fighting for Sabah’s rights and autonomy and the return of Sabah’s oil and gas resources, the Chinese community need to re-assess the situation and think about the future of their children and grand-children in Sabah. They should not adopt the view that they can send their children overseas and then encourage them not to return home.

Sabah is their homeland too that their ancestors, grand-parents and parents have helped built.  They need to stand united with the other communities to seek the restoration of Sabah as an equal partner in Malaysia equal to Malaya and Sarawak.   They need to help fight for the return of Sabah’s oil and gas resources.

In this regard, the ex-DAP leaders after having worked under their previous party should seize the opportunity and re-align themselves and bring along the Chinese community to fight for Sabah’s rights and autonomy from now on if they still consider themselves as Sabahans and love Sabah.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALAYSIAN NATIONAL PARTY WITH SARAWAK LEADERS AND SARAWAK PARTY WITH SARAWAK LEADERS

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALAYSIAN NATIONAL PARTY WITH SARAWAK LEADERS AND SARAWAK PARTY WITH SARAWAK LEADERS

National party cannot decide who is their local leader, this is decided by the top national leaders. National party cannot decide on candidates. National party cannot speak on national issues without clearance from national level - their mouths are gagged. National party need malayan politicians to help them to campaign in their ceramah and to organize fund-raising dinners to draw crowds. 

And most important, national party cannot use our Sarawak slogan "Sarawak For Sarawakians" becos everything they do, must be approved by national leaders.

It took local party Scottish National Party to be the state government to declare a referendum, it took local government Kosovo parliament to declare a UDI (unilateral declaration of independence). Do you think national party leaders would allow it?

If we have to be true to 'Sarawak for Sarawkians' only Sarawakians can fight for Sarawak, not Sarawakians who have to kowtow to malaya and depend on malayans to come to Sarawak and fight for us.

Sarawak belongs to the people of Sarawak. If Sarawakians cannot help ourselves, no one else will. Get that into our heads first. Otherwise don't talk about liberty and freedom, its a lost cause.

Lina Soo is a candidate for State Reform Party (STAR) for P196 Stampin, Sarawak in GE-13 and the author of popular book "Sarawak the Real Deal"

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