'Wrong for Zahid to belittle Berjaya and Usno'
Published on: Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been criticised for belittling Berjaya and claiming that the party, as well as Usno, were failures.According to former Sabah Times chief editor Yahaya Ismail (pic), Zahid's statement was out of historical focus and ignorant of the real political situations in Sabah at the time."It was wrong for Zahid to belittle Berjaya as one of the component parties of the Barisan Naisonal that defeated Usno in 1976. Most Sabahans know Berjaya had made great impact in the development of the State," said Yahaya, who served the post from 1978 to 1981 and claimed to have written few books on the political situations during the Usno and Berjaya governments.ADVERTISEMENT He said in fact, Berjaya was planned and supported by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was then the Prime Minister, who even gave the party RM500,000 to launch it to face Usno in the 1976 election.Two other former Prime Ministers, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, also praised Berjaya President cum Sabah Chief Minister Datuk (now Tan Sri) Harris Salleh for his dynamism in developing the State and looking after the welfare of Sabahans, he said.Because of this, Yahaya said Harris was known as the father of development in Sabah."Harris also developed good relationship with Kuala Lumpur for the benefit of the State and the people in terms of development, social, educational and infrastructural benefits that Sabah sorely needed."ADVERTISEMENT "During his time Berjaya was considered pro Federal Government, especially in the field of 'dakwah'. It was also the policy of the Federal Government to give citizenships to foreigners, especially Suluks and Indonesians, who stay more than 10 years in Sabah. This issue had become political that led to the downfall of Berjaya in the 1985 election," he recalled.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said when PBS defeated Berjaya in the 1985 election, it took a confrontational attitude towards the Federal Government. "There was no political stability in the State. PBS ignored Muslims from the civil service as well as getting contracts from the Government. This led to the downfall of PBS from power."Finally, Umno came to Sabah to bring political stability to the State. Now Umno too is facing great challenge from the opposition led by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Bersatu. It must be remembered in the last two elections of 2008 and 2013 it was the people of Sabah and Sarawak that helped BN to win the elections until today. These two states become the 'fixed deposit' for BN to win the election. Will these two states remain as 'fixed deposit' for BN in the coming election? Only Allah and the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak will decide," said Yahaya.During his working visit in Semporna recently, Zahid reminded Sabahans to learn from Sabah's political history and avoid making the mistake of changing governments like what happened in the 1970s and 1980s."We know that United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) and Berjaya failed," he reportedly said.Responding to this, Yahaya said Zahid failed to realise the political contributions to the State.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
"One must give credit and appreciation of Tun Mustapha, the President of Usno, who was one of the prominent leaders in Sabah that brought Sabah into Malaysia. He was a leader well-respected by Muslims and non- Muslims in the State. "Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister, respected him for his great zeal and dedication in promoting Islam in Sabah. Besides, there was a good relationship between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur during Mustapha's leadership until after a couple years before 1976," he said.