No excuse for delay on Oath Stone: Jeffrey
Published on: Thursday, September 15, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Star President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic) expressed dismay that the relocation and restoration of the original historical Batu Sumpah plaque is delayed despite all the public statements, pledges and promises by government leaders. "Even the simple action of putting back the original plaque that had re-emerged after decades could not be done by the Federal and Sabah government after months of wanting it back. "Such inaction speaks volumes of the attitude and nonchalance of the Federal and Sabah governments towards not only the Batu Sumpah but the formation of Malaysia and treatment of Sabah within Malaysia," he said. ADVERTISEMENT He was commenting on the admission by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup on Wednesday that the delay was due to a technical problem in the drawing plan. Kurup who chairs the Keningau Oath Stone Relocation Committee was also quoted as saying that the Minister of Tourism and Culture (Datuk Nazri) has promised that the funding would come from his Ministry. Jeffrey, however, said it is not surprising given the historical performance of the Federal Government as well as the Sabah Government, including the failure and inaction of the more recent RCI Technical and Main Committees and many other similar government actions. "There is totally no sense of urgency when it comes to the formation of Malaysia or the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, or typically known as NATO, No Action Talk Only," he said.ADVERTISEMENT The delay in putting back the original plaque which sets out the words "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin" which were omitted in a replacement plaque mysteriously done and the publicly announced purported relocation of the Batu Sumpah is inexcusable, he said."The Federal and Sabah governments have the power to act, the governments control the necessary funds, which costs practically nothing in the simple task of putting back the original plaque.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Both governments have all the implementing agencies and thousands and thousands of government personnel and security forces and whatever needed at their disposal."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
Can the people be blamed if they think that the federal government is treating Sabah as a far-flung colony and unimportant just like the promises and assurances given to induce Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia back in 1963 and some of which are set into the Batu Sumpah?, he asked.Jeffrey warned both the Federal and Sabah governments and their leaders not to think and treat the Batu Sumpah as an irrelevant and unimportant historical and constitutional document to be discarded and forgotten.