Yong: Form Assembly Select Committee
Published on: Wednesday, February 08, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang's statement that there is 'no united front on Sabah rights issue' because of the absence of local parties at the recent committee hearing is an admission that, without the strong input of local parties headed by experienced leaders, the State government lacks the political credential to face the Federal government on Sabah rights. "This is because the Sabah Rights Review Committee chaired by the Minister is neither a Select Committee formed by the Legislative Assembly nor a Cabinet Committee which, by convention, should be headed by a senior member of the Cabinet with at least two other ministers," said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee."On the other hand, it is the leaders of Gabungan Sabah and local parties who have been passionately fighting for Sabah rights and autonomy." ADVERTISEMENT He said that if one were to believe the claim by Teo that the rejection of the opposition members' motions on Sabah rights in the Legislative Assembly has nothing to do with the government, then the government should move a motion in the Legislative Assembly to form a Select Committee on Sabah Rights to cover all outstanding matters. He said an Assembly Select Committee would necessarily consist of Assemblymen from various parties and the report would be tabled back to the Assembly. In this case, he said, the Rights Review Committee will not become another farce like the RCI Technical Committee chaired by the most senior Deputy Chief Minister in the Sabah Cabinet.The heads of three local parties are members of the Legislative Assembly, namely Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan of Star, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing of Parti Cinta Sabah and Datuk Lajim Ukin of Parti Harapan. ADVERTISEMENT "The present Review Committee is only an afterthought by BN leaders who are scratching their heads over how to respond to the growing momentum of Sabahans demanding Sabah rights. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Hence, a committee was hastily formed to give the impression that the Barisan Nasional is doing something about Sabah rights, something that the BN government has brushed aside with the notorious reply 'apa mahu review, review?' in the assembly.
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"Pending proof of sincerity and consistency on the part of the government by openly promising that the government will no longer disallow the motions of our assemblymen on Sabah rights, Gabungan Sabah (United Sabah Alliance) and the four local parties had decided not to attend the closed-door hearing of the committee on Jan 26. A 'boycott' as mentioned by the Minister never arose," he said.