Why invite rejected: Gabungan

Kota Kinabalu: The opposition United Sabah Alliance (USA or Gabungan Sabah) and its four State-based opposition parties declined to attend the hearing session held by Sabah Rights Review Committee in joint letter to the State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman. USA said it is a grave self-contradiction that the Government, on one hand disallowed the motions by elected assemblymen to discuss Sabah rights in the State Legislative Assembly but now sees fit to invite opposition parties, two of which are led by the same assemblymen, to the hearing session on Jan. 26.

The letter was signed by USA Chairman Datuk Mohd Noor Mansor, along with the chairmen of the four parties, namely Star President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) President Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee and Parti Harapan Rakyat President Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin.

In the letter, USA and the four local opposition parties thanked the invitation to the hearing session extended by the Private Secretary to the Minister of Special Tasks. However, to show sincerity, USA and the four parties said the State Government should make an open promise not to refrain USA assemblymen from tabling motions concerning Sabah rights in the State Legislative Assembly. "Pending a definite show of sincerity and consistency on the part of the State Government, USA will not avail ourselves to attend the hearing session on January 26."

USA and the four opposition parties also said that the State Government should allow motions of Malaysia Agreement 1963 to be tabled by its assemblymen for debate at the State Legislative Assembly.

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In addition, USA and the four opposition parties request the State Government to fulfill its duty to Sabah by fearlessly pursuing the following matters:

- Compliance with the letter, intent and spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, including the Intergovernmental Committee Report (IGC), the report of the Cobbold Commission and the 20 Points, including revenue rights;

- Equal status for Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya;

- Autonomy for Sabah promised in the formation of Malaysia, and the return of Labuan to Sabah;

- Borneonisation of the public service, including a review of the Sabah Government's opposition and resistance to the suit of 'Bernard Fung and 1 other vs Federal Government of Malaysia and the Sabah State Government' (Borneonisation case);

- The rights of Sabah in immigration matters, including the re-issuance of Sabah ICs for genuine Malaysians in Sabah;

- Review of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants and the fate of the RCI technical committee;

- In reference to the Territorial Seas Act 2012 raised by the Minister, the loss of 3 million acres of maritime territory known as Blocks L and M, and whether there should have been an amendment to the Sabah Constitution as the loss of Blocks L and M was, in essence, an alteration of the Sabah boundaries;

- Status of Anak Negeri Sabah and Native Customary Rights (NCR);

- Sabah's right to our own oil and gas;

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- Abolition of the cabotage policy; and

- Resolving the Philippine's claim on Sabah.

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