Reject these leaders: Chong
Published on: Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat (pic) advised Sabahans to reject politicians and civil servants who decide to champion Sabah rights only after their retirement or are sacked from the Government."Don't you find it amusing? These are people who could have helped Sabah. When they were politicians in the government, when they were top civil servants in the government and enjoying all the perks,did you even for once hear any of them championing Sabah's rights? "How many of our own politicians now in the opposition had once been top government leaders?
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Did they ever fight as hard for Sabah rights then when they were in the position of power, when they in fact could do a lot of good things?" he asked.Instead, he said, the people should continue to support State leaders who are engaging with Federal leaders all the time to get back the State's rights in their own way, instead of shouting and blaming one another. Speaking at the launch of the book The Grand Design, a compilation of important documents relating to Malaysia's formation by political activist Zainnal Ajamain, he said these leaders only know how to exploit the rakyat's sentiments and emotions by shouting for Sabah's rights, including getting vocal in social media like in wats app groups. Chong also urged the people to first educate themselves on the State's real history and its rights before jumping to conclusions and playing the blame game on what went wrong in Sabah. He said reading historical narratives such as this second book and Zainal's first book, "The Queen's Obligation", would help the people understand what to ask and where to find the answers to their questions.
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"After we have read the documents, discussed among ourselves and exchanged our views can we ask things like, how far have our rights been eroded these past 53 years? Ask, why and how did we lose so many of our rights? Who actually were the culprits?
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"Can we simply blame it on the Federal Government? Have our own State leaders, the past until now, have only been giving lip service all these years when it comes to protecting our State rights?"Do we need another 50 years to claim back what should rightly be ours? Or should we not stop pointing fingers at others? For me, it is very important that we ask these questions," he said.Chong added that it is also crucial that the people reflect on themselves for the years of apathy and indifference where the majority only waited and expected others to carry the mantle of fighting for the State's rights while the populace remained aloof.Instead of simply looking from afar, he urged the people to come up with solutions and offer suggestions on how their aspirations can be achieved.According to Chong, in the end the destiny of the State lies in the hands of the people and in order to decide the course of the nation, it is important for the people to know the State's history by studying the documents on the formation of Malaysia.He praised Zainnal for his relentless and tireless crusade for a just and equitable Malaysia through both of his books on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 subject."According to Zainnal, to ensure a just Malaysia, Federal must respect the special rights that have been accorded to Sabah and Sarawak. He lamented that politicians, including me no doubt, both the State and Federal leaders, have failed the people. For that I am not going to argue with him," he said.Chong credited Zainnal for contributing to the sudden rise of nationalistic awareness in neighbouring Sarawak where the author had, for the past one year, toured and delivered talks on the Malaysia Agreement 1963. He also quoted Sarawak's Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem whose speech on July 22 in conjunction with Sarawak's Independence Day celebration sent shockwaves to Kuala Lumpur when he conceded that 'there has been constant erosion of power given to us over the last 50 over years'.In his speech, Adenan even declared that officials in Kuala Lumpur were not even born in 1963, thus explaining their ignorance on the special rights of Sabah and Sarawak and it is the duty of Sarawak to remind them of the agreement.The Sarawak BN Chairman added that Sabah would follow through, but Sarawak must fight for their own.Chong said in Sabah's pursuit of getting back its rights, and despite the many obstacles in the way, he is confident that the fight will bear its fruits simply because Sabahans are courageous.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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