By Loyal Sabahan
Datuk YB Hajjiji Haji Noor, Minister of Local Govt, called YB Teo and informed him that he was in the dark about the termination of the eight local community leaders and will do his best to reinstate them. However, he said the appointment of Haji Harun was done by the Chief Minister [Musa Aman] and as such, he can only inform the CM of his request for him to be removed.
Note: this Haji Harun was put there by the CM to sabotage (evidence in audio & video) LDP & YB Teo even before the last general election due to the MAZU issue in the Kudat constituency as the YB post for TANJUNG Kapor Assembly Seat was formerly held by Tan Sri Chong for many terms and the Sabah CM HATES Tan Sri Chong who was then the Minister of Tourism for not granting a 20 years privatization lease of SIPADAN Island to a S/B company held by CM cronies Richard Barnes and Olsen Lo (on behalf of his [CM's] son).
This same group (company) was eventually GIVEN 80 acres of ''land over water-TOL'' surrounding Mable Island by Musa for the proposed design and construction of a so-called ''Oceaniarium'' using Inno-Tech Architects S/B and AIA Planners, of which Richard Barne's Brother, Douglas, is a director.
This same company immediately SOLD the rights to this TOL [Temporary Occupation Lease of 20 years] to a company in West Malaysia controlled by a Penang Chinese (a Mr Wong) for many Millions of $$$.
This CM never forgave Tan Sri Chong (LDP) for the above and has since tried to split up LDP by buying and influencing some party leaders ie Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah (now in Gerakan), Dtk VK Liew, and Dtk Dep Sabah CM Peter Pang to gang up against Datuk Chin Su Phin and YB Teo, who are aligned to Tan Sri Chong.
I gave the above inside story to you so that when you look back now, the picture will become clearer as to what caused the ''Rumble in BN. LDP vs UMNO''.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Building a society through defeatism: Malay style
By the Kenyan Nomad
Monday, June 14, 2010
Being a student in Malaysia has been useful to me in many ways. You learn many new things, a new country, a new culture, people, food, etc. A beautiful nation with beautiful people, but probably a nation that has the worst political system. When you look from a far, when you see the dazzling Twin Towers, the sky crappers, the trains, the paved roads, the almost all tarmacked lanes, it is beautiful and satisfying, but beyond that, there is stinking political system, one devoid of decency and human good, a godless politics that thrives in indecency, skulduggery and simply outright demagoguery.
I remember Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saying in 2006, ‘the Malays will do anything to achieve something in politics (or something like that) and that anything includes vomit inducing rhetoric and actions. He was right! He was booted out disgracefully after being stabbed in the back by some of his Cabinet Ministers.
Malaysia’s story is not new, its racial politics, stifling bureaucracy, bulging and ever increasing civil service, third world politics, controlled society, partisan bodies and unthinking religious entities are issues one reads about almost on daily basis. Malaysia is not a nation that has bright future. I remember as a kid, circa 1995 reading somewhere a robust statement made by Prof. Ali Mazrui, recognized as the one of the 100 most influential intellectuals today where he praised the nation and predicted a bright future. Prof. Mazrui was in particular intrigued by the then Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. One decade later, you won’t hear the Kenyan-American professor talking of Malaysia.
That was when the economy was strong, institutional rot hidden from the public, social discontent minimal, political demagoguery not widely practiced, and Malaysia was surging. Dr. Mahathir and his then Deputy, Anwar Ibrahim were extremely popular in the Muslim (and non Muslim to a large extent) world. They were where the Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is today. Unchallenged and probably unparalleled when measured against fellow Muslim leaders.
Then came 1998, where Dr Mahathir and Anwar clashed over the 1997/8 Asian Financial Crisis and some internal succession politics. Anwar was sacked, brutally beaten and jailed on fabricated charges of sodomy. Dr. Mahathir, realizing Anwar’s appeal both locally and abroad went overdrive to neutralize him. He did it (at least till he left power in 2003) but at the expense of Malaysia. Malaysia has never recovered from that humiliating experience since then and it will never. Make no mistake about it; neither Dr. Mahathir nor Malaysia will recover from that ugly episode.
Anwar today is facing sodomy charges again. The new allegation would even beat the first one in stupidity. At least, in the first one, Malaysians were innocent enough to be shocked. Now, they aren’t. In fact, they have become accustomed to the brutality of the system that they smile, resigned to that fate. Only Chinua Achebe can describe their resignation and hopelessness like he did in his A Man of the People. Foreign students in Malaysia joke about this immoral politics. ‘Why doesn’t Malaysia introduce Bachelor in Sodomology’ they joke. Then they can shout to the world that they can (boleh) as they say in Malaysia.
This is a nation that’s losing its soul, its spiritual side, its human side. It is becoming concrete, merciless, immoral, godless and utterly ruthless. All the signs that the edifice is to come tumbling down are there, but the elite are interested in one thing: assassinating Anwar and they refuse to see the imminent danger.
But that’s not the subject here; it is the defeatism culture of the Malay leadership. Being a Somali ethnic myself, I’m in no position to blame others or point out their shortcomings, after all, my people have nothing to be proud of. May be Islam only, and even that Islam, they have rendered it cruel and tribal.
In Malaysia, there are three main races, the Malays who are the majority, the Chinese and the Indians, then there is motley of other races and tribes but politics revolves around the three main ones. Malaysia’s greatest challenge has been how to balance the economic disparity between the native Malays and the migrant communities who have made big (at least many of them) in Malaysia. The racial riots of 1969 define Malaysia till today.
After that deadly rioting, a new economic policy (NEP) was formulated. The target was to alleviate Malay poverty (plus the poverty of others), rearrange the economic imbalance, support Malays to get a foothold and make them have at least 30% equity. Four decades later, it stands at 19%. In those four decades, entire countries were built from scratch, of course others failed, but in Malaysia, they couldn't manage one policy in four decades and worse, many continue to insist that the failed policy should be maintained. Like a drug addict who holds on to his fatal drugs, some Malays have become addicts. It is killing them, killing their souls, killing their humanity, killing their spirit, killing their will, killing their dignity, killing their Islam and killing their country.
The trouble is the Malay leadership. Having seen their people have become addicts, they lack the charisma to tell them that the nation must cross a new frontier and meet today’s challenges with new policies that are effective, economically sound and free of corruption. You can’t stick to a policy that failed. Four decades is what a nation needs to rise, not for a single policy to be implemented.
Of course there is Anwar Ibrahim, always the rabble rouser who called the policy obsolete and formulated a new policy. But rather than debating on the merits of his new policy, the ruling party, UMNO, and its apparatchiks dismissed Anwar as a traitor, IMF funded rogue who wants to destroy the Malays. To me, Anwar is a great leader and UMNO leaders are leaders. The difference between the two is that a great leader takes his people where they don’t want to be but aught to be and a leader takes his people where they want. And when you listen to what your people like PERKASA's Ibrahim Ali and other Manglish speaking, Utusan consuming hordes want, you fail in your leadership role and that’s what’s happening in Malaysia.
In the four to five years that I have been in Malaysia, I have never heard a single Malay leader apart from Anwar Ibrahim and former Finance Minister and UMNO’s only conscientious member (apart from a blogger called Sakmongkol) Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah say the Malays CAN! I always hear, “The Malays are weak, the Malays can’t compete, the Malays don’t have the Chinese civilization, the Malays are not tough enough to survive on their own, the Malays need help, the Malays are under threat” and etc.
Dr. Mahathir, the former PM and a notoriously racial leader continues to stoke the embers of racism and warned the Malays that that they were losing Malaysia to the non-Malays. He knows they aren't losing but his target is to scare villagers into supporting the ruling party and thus prevent his arch-rivals, Anwar and PAS leaders from coming into power. I have no problem with politics, but destructive politics that destroys the very fabric of your nation and mismanages the destiny of that nation is both immoral and evil.
When I hear UMNO Malay leaders humiliate their own people by saying they are weak, can’t compete and need perpetual crutches, I always ask myself: what’s their intention? When you publicly and before the world camera repeat and repeat that your people are a bunch of hapless people, what do you want the world to do? To issue a Guinness World Records' certificate of collective stupidity to your people?
Why not praise your people instead? Why not say my people can? Why not raise up their spirit? Why not show them the opportunities the world has rather than cocooning them here alone? Why not remind them Islam and Allah’s order to Muslims to seek His bounties on earth and toil? A believer doesn't fail and worse, a believer doesn't engage in defeatism. “Ta-Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you that you may be unsuccessful.” (20-1-2. Holy Quran, Shakir)
There was a Tab’ie (follower of the Prophet’s Companions) who one day came a long two men fighting. One was being humiliated. So he wanted to raise the spirits of the defeated guy. He reminded him of his faith, of his people’s past glories, of his ability, of grandfathers, of his own, and instantly the man was charged. I can’t recollect the entire story but I remember the Tabi’e also said had the other man being the one humiliated, he would have reminded him of many good things and helped him rise.
The moral of the story? Always remind your people of what’s good! Of their past glories to draw lessons, always point to their future. Remind them about their name and dignity. Tell them of the teachings of their faith. Islam is basically about creating success stories, not a whining society that’s hopeless. You are in a fight, a perpetual fight and this fight can’t be won through simplistic ideas. It needs resilience, patience, innovation, faith, sobriety, thinking, good leadership, honest administrators and just leaders (institutions).
This battle needs sacrifice. This battle needs toil and tears. Allah (sw) didn't see it fit to send even His Prophets free food. There is nothing called free here. All our Prophets worked hard and were herdsmen. Why do you think they had to occupy the lowest of jobs to survive? It's meant to remind us work is what’s important and earning halal income is our destiny. Rent-seeking, corruption, sleaze, cronyism and opportunism destroy a nation.
Mukhtar al Bukhary is not a success story. Which part of meeting a minister in his private sitting room and cutting deals is a success? Can he stand tall and be proud? The world would laugh at him, but UMNO says that’s the success of NEP. Poorah! A successful story inspires generations or even nations. Bill Gates inspired nations. He invented something, promoted it and benefited billions. He continues to inspire billions. Can Bukhary do the same? He can’t. When you give Naza 18,000 APs and they make some easy money, it that a success story that can inspire the future Malays? Which part of it is a success?
But we can have a successful Malay community by sticking to the book, rule of law, Godliness, and meritocracy. You deserve: you get, you don’t deserve: you won’t get it. Period! We need to have some policy to help the Malays, but we need results as well. I want to remind the Malays one thing, if you are unjust, you will lose this nation. That’s how God’s creation order works. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “God upholds the just state even if it is unbelieving, but does not uphold the unjust state even if it is Muslim.”
In other words, God would help and sustain a non-Muslim person/state that’s just than a Muslim person/state that is not. This is simple because the Prophets were sent to bring justice and God’s creation order stands on justice. If you want to have NEP, include the Chinese and Indian orphans and widows and the needy among all races. That way, you will continue to rule and prosper. But if you think voting PERKASA and UMNO will make you safe and sustainable, then you are mistaken. You will drown sooner than you can imagine. It is justice that would maintain you and settle for good leadership.
There can no be 100% successful policy or state, but being righteous and godly, being fair and just, being honest and incorruptible helps. And please, for once, defeat PERKASA and PERKASA minded parties. If you don't look inward, if you don't ask critical questions and examine yourselves, if you believe the hyperbole of PERKASA and its financiers, there will come a time when it is too late to salvage this nation and regret comes later. May Allah (sw) bless u all and guide us! Amin!
“And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right. Holy Quran 29: 69)
Update: An anonymous commentator pointed out to a forum (forum.cari) where some Malays are attacking me. Read their bunkum here. Some are even calling me a nigger. kkkkk! I can assure you that I'm whiter than "Malay" Zambry Abdul Kadir. But even if I were a nigger, that's not a problem. I appreciate God's creation. I being black or white is of no consequence. My humanity is what matters.
Please dear Malay brethren, debate the merits of this post and if you believe I may be wrong in some cases, point out and advise by commenting on it. Engaging in an orgy of tribal bashing devoid of any intellectual input justifies what I have wrote here. I love you and only God knows how Much. My criticism is genuine and from a Muslim brother who feels your pain but believes things have to change because the world is not waiting for you. Wassalam!
Posted by Chronicles of a Nomad
Monday, June 14, 2010
Being a student in Malaysia has been useful to me in many ways. You learn many new things, a new country, a new culture, people, food, etc. A beautiful nation with beautiful people, but probably a nation that has the worst political system. When you look from a far, when you see the dazzling Twin Towers, the sky crappers, the trains, the paved roads, the almost all tarmacked lanes, it is beautiful and satisfying, but beyond that, there is stinking political system, one devoid of decency and human good, a godless politics that thrives in indecency, skulduggery and simply outright demagoguery.
I remember Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saying in 2006, ‘the Malays will do anything to achieve something in politics (or something like that) and that anything includes vomit inducing rhetoric and actions. He was right! He was booted out disgracefully after being stabbed in the back by some of his Cabinet Ministers.
Malaysia’s story is not new, its racial politics, stifling bureaucracy, bulging and ever increasing civil service, third world politics, controlled society, partisan bodies and unthinking religious entities are issues one reads about almost on daily basis. Malaysia is not a nation that has bright future. I remember as a kid, circa 1995 reading somewhere a robust statement made by Prof. Ali Mazrui, recognized as the one of the 100 most influential intellectuals today where he praised the nation and predicted a bright future. Prof. Mazrui was in particular intrigued by the then Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. One decade later, you won’t hear the Kenyan-American professor talking of Malaysia.
That was when the economy was strong, institutional rot hidden from the public, social discontent minimal, political demagoguery not widely practiced, and Malaysia was surging. Dr. Mahathir and his then Deputy, Anwar Ibrahim were extremely popular in the Muslim (and non Muslim to a large extent) world. They were where the Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is today. Unchallenged and probably unparalleled when measured against fellow Muslim leaders.
Then came 1998, where Dr Mahathir and Anwar clashed over the 1997/8 Asian Financial Crisis and some internal succession politics. Anwar was sacked, brutally beaten and jailed on fabricated charges of sodomy. Dr. Mahathir, realizing Anwar’s appeal both locally and abroad went overdrive to neutralize him. He did it (at least till he left power in 2003) but at the expense of Malaysia. Malaysia has never recovered from that humiliating experience since then and it will never. Make no mistake about it; neither Dr. Mahathir nor Malaysia will recover from that ugly episode.
Anwar today is facing sodomy charges again. The new allegation would even beat the first one in stupidity. At least, in the first one, Malaysians were innocent enough to be shocked. Now, they aren’t. In fact, they have become accustomed to the brutality of the system that they smile, resigned to that fate. Only Chinua Achebe can describe their resignation and hopelessness like he did in his A Man of the People. Foreign students in Malaysia joke about this immoral politics. ‘Why doesn’t Malaysia introduce Bachelor in Sodomology’ they joke. Then they can shout to the world that they can (boleh) as they say in Malaysia.
This is a nation that’s losing its soul, its spiritual side, its human side. It is becoming concrete, merciless, immoral, godless and utterly ruthless. All the signs that the edifice is to come tumbling down are there, but the elite are interested in one thing: assassinating Anwar and they refuse to see the imminent danger.
But that’s not the subject here; it is the defeatism culture of the Malay leadership. Being a Somali ethnic myself, I’m in no position to blame others or point out their shortcomings, after all, my people have nothing to be proud of. May be Islam only, and even that Islam, they have rendered it cruel and tribal.
In Malaysia, there are three main races, the Malays who are the majority, the Chinese and the Indians, then there is motley of other races and tribes but politics revolves around the three main ones. Malaysia’s greatest challenge has been how to balance the economic disparity between the native Malays and the migrant communities who have made big (at least many of them) in Malaysia. The racial riots of 1969 define Malaysia till today.
After that deadly rioting, a new economic policy (NEP) was formulated. The target was to alleviate Malay poverty (plus the poverty of others), rearrange the economic imbalance, support Malays to get a foothold and make them have at least 30% equity. Four decades later, it stands at 19%. In those four decades, entire countries were built from scratch, of course others failed, but in Malaysia, they couldn't manage one policy in four decades and worse, many continue to insist that the failed policy should be maintained. Like a drug addict who holds on to his fatal drugs, some Malays have become addicts. It is killing them, killing their souls, killing their humanity, killing their spirit, killing their will, killing their dignity, killing their Islam and killing their country.
The trouble is the Malay leadership. Having seen their people have become addicts, they lack the charisma to tell them that the nation must cross a new frontier and meet today’s challenges with new policies that are effective, economically sound and free of corruption. You can’t stick to a policy that failed. Four decades is what a nation needs to rise, not for a single policy to be implemented.
Of course there is Anwar Ibrahim, always the rabble rouser who called the policy obsolete and formulated a new policy. But rather than debating on the merits of his new policy, the ruling party, UMNO, and its apparatchiks dismissed Anwar as a traitor, IMF funded rogue who wants to destroy the Malays. To me, Anwar is a great leader and UMNO leaders are leaders. The difference between the two is that a great leader takes his people where they don’t want to be but aught to be and a leader takes his people where they want. And when you listen to what your people like PERKASA's Ibrahim Ali and other Manglish speaking, Utusan consuming hordes want, you fail in your leadership role and that’s what’s happening in Malaysia.
In the four to five years that I have been in Malaysia, I have never heard a single Malay leader apart from Anwar Ibrahim and former Finance Minister and UMNO’s only conscientious member (apart from a blogger called Sakmongkol) Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah say the Malays CAN! I always hear, “The Malays are weak, the Malays can’t compete, the Malays don’t have the Chinese civilization, the Malays are not tough enough to survive on their own, the Malays need help, the Malays are under threat” and etc.
Dr. Mahathir, the former PM and a notoriously racial leader continues to stoke the embers of racism and warned the Malays that that they were losing Malaysia to the non-Malays. He knows they aren't losing but his target is to scare villagers into supporting the ruling party and thus prevent his arch-rivals, Anwar and PAS leaders from coming into power. I have no problem with politics, but destructive politics that destroys the very fabric of your nation and mismanages the destiny of that nation is both immoral and evil.
When I hear UMNO Malay leaders humiliate their own people by saying they are weak, can’t compete and need perpetual crutches, I always ask myself: what’s their intention? When you publicly and before the world camera repeat and repeat that your people are a bunch of hapless people, what do you want the world to do? To issue a Guinness World Records' certificate of collective stupidity to your people?
Why not praise your people instead? Why not say my people can? Why not raise up their spirit? Why not show them the opportunities the world has rather than cocooning them here alone? Why not remind them Islam and Allah’s order to Muslims to seek His bounties on earth and toil? A believer doesn't fail and worse, a believer doesn't engage in defeatism. “Ta-Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you that you may be unsuccessful.” (20-1-2. Holy Quran, Shakir)
There was a Tab’ie (follower of the Prophet’s Companions) who one day came a long two men fighting. One was being humiliated. So he wanted to raise the spirits of the defeated guy. He reminded him of his faith, of his people’s past glories, of his ability, of grandfathers, of his own, and instantly the man was charged. I can’t recollect the entire story but I remember the Tabi’e also said had the other man being the one humiliated, he would have reminded him of many good things and helped him rise.
The moral of the story? Always remind your people of what’s good! Of their past glories to draw lessons, always point to their future. Remind them about their name and dignity. Tell them of the teachings of their faith. Islam is basically about creating success stories, not a whining society that’s hopeless. You are in a fight, a perpetual fight and this fight can’t be won through simplistic ideas. It needs resilience, patience, innovation, faith, sobriety, thinking, good leadership, honest administrators and just leaders (institutions).
This battle needs sacrifice. This battle needs toil and tears. Allah (sw) didn't see it fit to send even His Prophets free food. There is nothing called free here. All our Prophets worked hard and were herdsmen. Why do you think they had to occupy the lowest of jobs to survive? It's meant to remind us work is what’s important and earning halal income is our destiny. Rent-seeking, corruption, sleaze, cronyism and opportunism destroy a nation.
Mukhtar al Bukhary is not a success story. Which part of meeting a minister in his private sitting room and cutting deals is a success? Can he stand tall and be proud? The world would laugh at him, but UMNO says that’s the success of NEP. Poorah! A successful story inspires generations or even nations. Bill Gates inspired nations. He invented something, promoted it and benefited billions. He continues to inspire billions. Can Bukhary do the same? He can’t. When you give Naza 18,000 APs and they make some easy money, it that a success story that can inspire the future Malays? Which part of it is a success?
But we can have a successful Malay community by sticking to the book, rule of law, Godliness, and meritocracy. You deserve: you get, you don’t deserve: you won’t get it. Period! We need to have some policy to help the Malays, but we need results as well. I want to remind the Malays one thing, if you are unjust, you will lose this nation. That’s how God’s creation order works. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “God upholds the just state even if it is unbelieving, but does not uphold the unjust state even if it is Muslim.”
In other words, God would help and sustain a non-Muslim person/state that’s just than a Muslim person/state that is not. This is simple because the Prophets were sent to bring justice and God’s creation order stands on justice. If you want to have NEP, include the Chinese and Indian orphans and widows and the needy among all races. That way, you will continue to rule and prosper. But if you think voting PERKASA and UMNO will make you safe and sustainable, then you are mistaken. You will drown sooner than you can imagine. It is justice that would maintain you and settle for good leadership.
There can no be 100% successful policy or state, but being righteous and godly, being fair and just, being honest and incorruptible helps. And please, for once, defeat PERKASA and PERKASA minded parties. If you don't look inward, if you don't ask critical questions and examine yourselves, if you believe the hyperbole of PERKASA and its financiers, there will come a time when it is too late to salvage this nation and regret comes later. May Allah (sw) bless u all and guide us! Amin!
“And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right. Holy Quran 29: 69)
Update: An anonymous commentator pointed out to a forum (forum.cari) where some Malays are attacking me. Read their bunkum here. Some are even calling me a nigger. kkkkk! I can assure you that I'm whiter than "Malay" Zambry Abdul Kadir. But even if I were a nigger, that's not a problem. I appreciate God's creation. I being black or white is of no consequence. My humanity is what matters.
Please dear Malay brethren, debate the merits of this post and if you believe I may be wrong in some cases, point out and advise by commenting on it. Engaging in an orgy of tribal bashing devoid of any intellectual input justifies what I have wrote here. I love you and only God knows how Much. My criticism is genuine and from a Muslim brother who feels your pain but believes things have to change because the world is not waiting for you. Wassalam!
Posted by Chronicles of a Nomad
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Re-Colonisation of Sabah
By Dominic Legeh
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah veteran politician Karim Ghani has admonished the state Barisan Nasional government for acquiescing to the notion that the state is merely one of 13 in the federation and not one of the three components in Malaysia.
"We are actually a federation composed of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya. It is not Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Kelantan and so on. This must be put correct," the prominent Sabah Umno member said yesterday.
"It is incumbent upon the leaders in Sabah to say that this is our position," he said in an interview.
"I suggest someone either the state government of Sabah or the opposition bring this to the assembly and reaffirm our position as we see it … that we are one of the three components of the Federation of Malaysia, not one of the 13 states," he said.
Explaining his stand on a recent government-sponsored talk by a law professor who said that Sabah and Sarawak could not claim that Malaysia was a partnership of three equal members, Karim said it was crucial for state leaders to rebut this contention.
He said that this was because the professor was reflecting the view of the federal government, as he was in the state on the government's invitation.
Ranjit Singh, of Universiti Utara Malaysia's College of Law, Government and International Studies, made the startling claim in his working paper titled 'Sabah Politics and Policy and Federal-State Relations 1963-1995', last month.
Politicians and leaders of all stripes have been pouncing on the the controversial contention that downplays Sabah's and Sarawak's importance in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Karim said the contention is important because "it involves the root of the formation of Malaysia.
"It is beyond the question of autonomy because when Tunku Abdul Rahman (the then Prime Minister of Malaya) invited Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Brunei to join Malaya to form Malaysia, it was agreed that they would have equal rights and be equal components with equal status.
"The reason, as what Tunku Abdul Rahman said then, was that one, we are colonised, second, we are poor, three, we are undeveloped...meaning by forming Malaysia we will be free from colonisation, we will be rich like Malaya, and we will be developed like Malaya.
"Unfortunately, after 46 years of independence, Sabah did not become rich like Malaya but instead became one of the poorest in Malaysia...the same can be said with the development aspect.
A different master now
Stating that Sabah had actually remained a colony albeit under a different master he said: "The basis of a free nation is that the leader is appointed by the people. In our case our leader is appointed by Kuala Lumpur.
"Before 1961, our leader in Sabah was Sir William Good but he was appointed by London. So nothing has changed.
"When we talk about equal component and equal share we must remember that when Tunku Abdul Rahman invited us there were five separate entities and thus equal share meant each nation would enjoy a 20 percent share of the nation's wealth.
"When Brunei pulled out there were left four entities, so the share become 25 percent each for the remaining four. Then when Singapore was kicked out there were three left and thus each should have enjoy 33.3 percent share of teh nation’s wealth.
"But if we are only one of the 13 states our share is only 7.3 percent so who took away or stole the rest of 26 percent (of the wealth) which supposed to belong to Sabah.
"That is why the question whether we are one of the 13 states or one of the three components in Malaysia means so much.
"If Tunku Abdul Rahman had said you (Sabah) become one of the 13 states, like Sabah is equal to Perlis, I don't think the Sabah and Sarawak leaders would have been so stupid to accept the invitation (to form Malaysia).
"I think the professor (Ranjit) was trying to justify the 1Malaysia concept when he presented the paper. The 1Malaysia concept means the position of Sabah is no longer there, because everyone is equal.
"So don't be surprised if you see the heads of federal government departments and agencies are from the Peninsular because you cannot ask any question anymore because of 1Malaysia.
"And it is the same when those people from the peninsular come to Sabah to take our business and land under the 1Malaysia concept.
"But this is not what Malaysia is. Malaysia, like Australia, is a federation composed of three components Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya Federation."
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah veteran politician Karim Ghani has admonished the state Barisan Nasional government for acquiescing to the notion that the state is merely one of 13 in the federation and not one of the three components in Malaysia.
"We are actually a federation composed of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya. It is not Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Kelantan and so on. This must be put correct," the prominent Sabah Umno member said yesterday.
"It is incumbent upon the leaders in Sabah to say that this is our position," he said in an interview.
"I suggest someone either the state government of Sabah or the opposition bring this to the assembly and reaffirm our position as we see it … that we are one of the three components of the Federation of Malaysia, not one of the 13 states," he said.
Explaining his stand on a recent government-sponsored talk by a law professor who said that Sabah and Sarawak could not claim that Malaysia was a partnership of three equal members, Karim said it was crucial for state leaders to rebut this contention.
He said that this was because the professor was reflecting the view of the federal government, as he was in the state on the government's invitation.
Ranjit Singh, of Universiti Utara Malaysia's College of Law, Government and International Studies, made the startling claim in his working paper titled 'Sabah Politics and Policy and Federal-State Relations 1963-1995', last month.
Politicians and leaders of all stripes have been pouncing on the the controversial contention that downplays Sabah's and Sarawak's importance in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Karim said the contention is important because "it involves the root of the formation of Malaysia.
"It is beyond the question of autonomy because when Tunku Abdul Rahman (the then Prime Minister of Malaya) invited Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Brunei to join Malaya to form Malaysia, it was agreed that they would have equal rights and be equal components with equal status.
"The reason, as what Tunku Abdul Rahman said then, was that one, we are colonised, second, we are poor, three, we are undeveloped...meaning by forming Malaysia we will be free from colonisation, we will be rich like Malaya, and we will be developed like Malaya.
"Unfortunately, after 46 years of independence, Sabah did not become rich like Malaya but instead became one of the poorest in Malaysia...the same can be said with the development aspect.
A different master now
Stating that Sabah had actually remained a colony albeit under a different master he said: "The basis of a free nation is that the leader is appointed by the people. In our case our leader is appointed by Kuala Lumpur.
"Before 1961, our leader in Sabah was Sir William Good but he was appointed by London. So nothing has changed.
"When we talk about equal component and equal share we must remember that when Tunku Abdul Rahman invited us there were five separate entities and thus equal share meant each nation would enjoy a 20 percent share of the nation's wealth.
"When Brunei pulled out there were left four entities, so the share become 25 percent each for the remaining four. Then when Singapore was kicked out there were three left and thus each should have enjoy 33.3 percent share of teh nation’s wealth.
"But if we are only one of the 13 states our share is only 7.3 percent so who took away or stole the rest of 26 percent (of the wealth) which supposed to belong to Sabah.
"That is why the question whether we are one of the 13 states or one of the three components in Malaysia means so much.
"If Tunku Abdul Rahman had said you (Sabah) become one of the 13 states, like Sabah is equal to Perlis, I don't think the Sabah and Sarawak leaders would have been so stupid to accept the invitation (to form Malaysia).
"I think the professor (Ranjit) was trying to justify the 1Malaysia concept when he presented the paper. The 1Malaysia concept means the position of Sabah is no longer there, because everyone is equal.
"So don't be surprised if you see the heads of federal government departments and agencies are from the Peninsular because you cannot ask any question anymore because of 1Malaysia.
"And it is the same when those people from the peninsular come to Sabah to take our business and land under the 1Malaysia concept.
"But this is not what Malaysia is. Malaysia, like Australia, is a federation composed of three components Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya Federation."
Yong: Will Malaysia be another Greece?
Yong: Will Malaysia be another Greece? .
03 Jun 2010 . .By Queville To
KOTA KINABALU: Attempts by Umno leaders to shrug off warnings that Malaysia could be heading for bankruptcy like Greece showed that they were unable to see underlying trends that have been threatening Malaysia's economy for the last decade, a senior Sabah politician said yesterday.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president, Yong Teck Lee, said that facts and figures on the state of the country's economic malaise were disturbing.
He was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala's recent warning that the country could go bankrupt in nine years if the RM74 billion annual subsidies are not cut.
Yong also took a swipe at economist and Umno supreme council member Norraesah Mohamad's rebuttal of Idris' stand, saying it was “ridiculous” and frightening”.
Yong pointed out that Malaysia’s tax revenue base has been shrinking because of the migration of manufacturing companies to Vietnam, Indonesia and China and a drop in foreign direct investments (FDIs).
“The fact that import and export duties, excise duties and sales and service taxes have remained stagnant at below RM30 billion for the last five years indicates low trade and business volume.
"The bulk of the additional government revenue came from Petronas dividends, oil royalties, petroleum profit tax and personal income tax,” he said.
Yong said that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had acknowledged, when tabling the 2010 Budget in Parliament last year, that revenue would fall by RM14 billion from RM162 billion to RM148 billion, a drop of 8.4%.
Net FDIs for the first half of 2009 dropped by RM16 billion to a mere RM 3.6 billion.
"Hence, revenues have not been able to catch up with total expenditures, resulting in an escalating deficit each year. From a deficit of RM18 billion in 2005, the figure has grown to RM19 billion (2006), RM20 billion (2007), RM35 billion (2008) and RM47 billion in 2009.
"The deficit for the first quarter of this year has already reached RM10 billion."
'Idris has a point'
Yong said the warning by Idris that Malaysia could be bankrupt like Greece is shocking because it would only take a short time for the country to deteriorate from prosperity to bankruptcy.
“The only other Asian example is the Philippines which in the 1970s was one of the richest and most advanced nations in Asia.
"Within a decade of mismanagement and abuses, it turned into the poorest, most corrupt nation riddled with civil strife and chaos,” he said.
On Norraesah's argument that the Greek debt to GDP ratio was 113% while Malaysia’s current national debt of RM378 billion is 56% of GDP, Yong said that at the rate the deficit is running up (RM50 billion each year and a GDP growth of 5%), Malaysia will indeed become like Greece by 2019.
“Idris has a point. But his Umno partners are not likely to agree with him because the national economy is subsidising the 'Umnoputras'. This is why there has to be a change in the federal government before it is too late,” said Yong.
He also warned that Sabah could be another “Dubai” if the state government is not careful with its financial management.
“Greece was eventually brought down because it was unable to pay its sovereign bonds of US$11 billion earlier this year, which resulted in its credit rating being downgraded to 'junk status'. Dubai has debts to the tune of US$60 billion.
"If Sabah is not careful, it could suffer a similar fate,” said Yong.
"Dubai’s government investment agency could not honour its bond of only US$3.5 billion. This has caused a financial crisis, loss of confidence and an exodus of investors from Dubai,” he added.
Yong is concerned that too little information is available on the Sabah government bond of RM500 million issued last year.
“The government claims to have a reserve of RM2 billion but has chosen to take a bond of RM500 million payable in full in five years, presumably in 2014.
"If we have RM2 billion in reserves, then why do we need a bond of RM500 million?
"Where will the RM500 million be invested in? Suria Complex? Sabah Development Corridor projects? One Borneo? Plantations? When will the information be made known?” he asked.
'Time for more information'
Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, recalled that at the height of the Asian 1997-98 financial crisis, an internal evaluation of Sabah’s credit rating showed that the state government had no debts.
“It is my understanding that this healthy status was maintained until the state government took out the RM500 million bond .
"What will happen in 2014 if the state government cannot afford to take out RM500 million from its treasury and pay off the bond?
"Failure to do so could trigger our own Sabah financial crisis. Civil service pay and operational expenditures will be affected.”
In the light of what has been disclosed about Malaysia's economic and financial status, "it is time that the state government released more information about the RM500 million bond”, said Yong.
03 Jun 2010 . .By Queville To
KOTA KINABALU: Attempts by Umno leaders to shrug off warnings that Malaysia could be heading for bankruptcy like Greece showed that they were unable to see underlying trends that have been threatening Malaysia's economy for the last decade, a senior Sabah politician said yesterday.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president, Yong Teck Lee, said that facts and figures on the state of the country's economic malaise were disturbing.
He was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala's recent warning that the country could go bankrupt in nine years if the RM74 billion annual subsidies are not cut.
Yong also took a swipe at economist and Umno supreme council member Norraesah Mohamad's rebuttal of Idris' stand, saying it was “ridiculous” and frightening”.
Yong pointed out that Malaysia’s tax revenue base has been shrinking because of the migration of manufacturing companies to Vietnam, Indonesia and China and a drop in foreign direct investments (FDIs).
“The fact that import and export duties, excise duties and sales and service taxes have remained stagnant at below RM30 billion for the last five years indicates low trade and business volume.
"The bulk of the additional government revenue came from Petronas dividends, oil royalties, petroleum profit tax and personal income tax,” he said.
Yong said that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had acknowledged, when tabling the 2010 Budget in Parliament last year, that revenue would fall by RM14 billion from RM162 billion to RM148 billion, a drop of 8.4%.
Net FDIs for the first half of 2009 dropped by RM16 billion to a mere RM 3.6 billion.
"Hence, revenues have not been able to catch up with total expenditures, resulting in an escalating deficit each year. From a deficit of RM18 billion in 2005, the figure has grown to RM19 billion (2006), RM20 billion (2007), RM35 billion (2008) and RM47 billion in 2009.
"The deficit for the first quarter of this year has already reached RM10 billion."
'Idris has a point'
Yong said the warning by Idris that Malaysia could be bankrupt like Greece is shocking because it would only take a short time for the country to deteriorate from prosperity to bankruptcy.
“The only other Asian example is the Philippines which in the 1970s was one of the richest and most advanced nations in Asia.
"Within a decade of mismanagement and abuses, it turned into the poorest, most corrupt nation riddled with civil strife and chaos,” he said.
On Norraesah's argument that the Greek debt to GDP ratio was 113% while Malaysia’s current national debt of RM378 billion is 56% of GDP, Yong said that at the rate the deficit is running up (RM50 billion each year and a GDP growth of 5%), Malaysia will indeed become like Greece by 2019.
“Idris has a point. But his Umno partners are not likely to agree with him because the national economy is subsidising the 'Umnoputras'. This is why there has to be a change in the federal government before it is too late,” said Yong.
He also warned that Sabah could be another “Dubai” if the state government is not careful with its financial management.
“Greece was eventually brought down because it was unable to pay its sovereign bonds of US$11 billion earlier this year, which resulted in its credit rating being downgraded to 'junk status'. Dubai has debts to the tune of US$60 billion.
"If Sabah is not careful, it could suffer a similar fate,” said Yong.
"Dubai’s government investment agency could not honour its bond of only US$3.5 billion. This has caused a financial crisis, loss of confidence and an exodus of investors from Dubai,” he added.
Yong is concerned that too little information is available on the Sabah government bond of RM500 million issued last year.
“The government claims to have a reserve of RM2 billion but has chosen to take a bond of RM500 million payable in full in five years, presumably in 2014.
"If we have RM2 billion in reserves, then why do we need a bond of RM500 million?
"Where will the RM500 million be invested in? Suria Complex? Sabah Development Corridor projects? One Borneo? Plantations? When will the information be made known?” he asked.
'Time for more information'
Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, recalled that at the height of the Asian 1997-98 financial crisis, an internal evaluation of Sabah’s credit rating showed that the state government had no debts.
“It is my understanding that this healthy status was maintained until the state government took out the RM500 million bond .
"What will happen in 2014 if the state government cannot afford to take out RM500 million from its treasury and pay off the bond?
"Failure to do so could trigger our own Sabah financial crisis. Civil service pay and operational expenditures will be affected.”
In the light of what has been disclosed about Malaysia's economic and financial status, "it is time that the state government released more information about the RM500 million bond”, said Yong.
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