Sabahans tired of too many panels but no action: DAP
Published on: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) has doubts about the Barisan Nasional's intention in setting up a panel to identify issues on non-compliance on matters to rights of Sabah and Sarawak in the federation. Its Secretary Junz Wong feared it would be just window dressing to cool down the pressures from East Malaysians who have been demanding their rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.In a statement, he also questioned BN's lack of political will to sincerely review the non-compliance issues.
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He argued if the BN was really sincere in resolving the non-compliance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, they would have supported the private member's bill tabled by Sandakan Member of Parliament Stephen Wong in the last parliament sitting to amend the Federal Constitution and recognise Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners.He said Wong's Bill was ignored and priority given to PAS' Abdul Hadi Awang's Act 355 Hudud bill.He pointed out that both DAP and PKR parliamentarians have repeatedly raised issues pertaining to Sabah's rights but received no consensus from the BN.Wong also based his doubts on the fact that the BN has set up a few technical committees before but none has proved to be effective.
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"In 2006, (former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah) Badawi announced a federal study to resolve the PTI (illegal immigrants) issue. In 2009, he announced again on the same thing. In 2013, (prime minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) announced another panel on the same issue again," he said.He reminded that Sabahans have grown tired, especially since the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report had yet to be acted on.
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He said the same goes with the committee looking into the Cabotage Policy issue which had been going nowhere."It has only led to the setting up of one committee after another such as the logistics committee but without any positive result," he added.Wong even questioned the timing of the government's announcement and suspected it has something to do with the coming general election.He then challenged the government to show its sincerity by fulfilling two conditions."First the BN must appoint at least one representative from Sabah's opposition party in the technical committee. Secondly, the RCI committee led by Tan Sri (Joseph) Pairin (Kitingan) must disclose the RCI recommendations on ways to resolve the illegal immigrants issue in the next three months," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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