'No need to review 20-Point'
Published on: Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties on Tuesday defended the 20-Point Agreement, saying there is no need for a review unless it is truly for the benefit of the people in the State.Some State BN leaders even slammed the call on Monday by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk M. Kayveas, on the Sabah and Sarawak Governments to review the Agreement which was part and parcel of the terms and conditions for the two states to join the Malaysian federation.Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, said the Agreement could be reviewed in view of the changing circumstances and the people's livelihood.
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"But, I must emphasise here that any review must be towards improving the people of Sabah in terms of social, economics, politics, education, etc. Any review must not take away the rights of the people of Sabah but instead improve them," he stressed. "Such a review must also receive the green light from both Sabah leaders and people for mutual understanding and long-lasting good relationship between the State and Federal Governments," he added.Sharing the same view, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said many East Malaysians felt that some aspects were not encapsulated in the 20-Point Agreement."If there is a need for review, it should be made upwards and not downwards," said its Deputy President Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai.
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He said the 20-Point was very crucial for the wellbeing of the country and still progressing well.Dr Yee, who is also Resource and Information Technology Development Minister, said a review could perhaps be made to include oil revenue.
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He urged those wanting to touch on the 20-Point to first grasp the spirit and sentiment of the leaders when the Federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963."Of course, we cannot stop people from talking but if it is in a negative tone, I hope they will do so by first understanding the spirits of our leaders and why it was formed," he said.United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) said the stance of the Sabah BN component parties and majority of Sabahans on the issue must not be seen as parochial sentiment."I think this must be seen in a right spirit," said its Information Chief Wilfred Tangau.He said any review must be done in a package and, therefore, a lot needs to be changed, among others, the Federal and State Constitutions."We understand and appreciate the concern but it has to be done in a package. It also needs to be approached in the right frame of work," he said."We did not join Malaysia but we formed the Federation of Malaysia together with Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore in 1963," he said.Tangau said Upko shared some of Senator Datuk Abdul Karim Ghani's remarks when the latter responded to Kayveas at the Dewan Negara.Abdul Karim had stated that there were laws and regulations, which were discriminatory against Sabahans and Sarawakians, including the five per cent oil royalty paid to the Federal Government and the non-eligibility of their Heads of State to be appointed Yang di-Pertuan Agong.Tangau said many things need to be considered such as about 70 per cent of the land in Malaysia is in Sabah and Sarawak, and that the Chairman of the Malaysia Consultative Council was Tun Fuad Stephens, a Sabahan.Among the reasons for the 20-Point Agreement, he said, was to quell the fear of locals that Sabah and Sarawak would be overwhelmed by their counterparts from the peninsula."Have we done enough to address this fear? In reality, Sabah and Sarawak are lagging behind in terms of basic facilities for the people," he said.Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said Kayveas' call for Sabah to remove immigration control was unnecessary and provocative.Its Secretary-General, Richard Yong, said the Deputy Minister should respect the Constitutions which set up a federal system of government, with the Federal Government, State Government and Local Government having their own jurisdiction and autonomy."After all, legitimate visitors and businessmen, students and so on have not faced restrictions when entering Sabah."Our Federal Constitution, laws and administrative system cater to the country's diverse needs, for example, land laws, Native Customary rights and Malay Reserve Land in the peninsula. In some peninsula states, citizens from outside that State cannot own land, whereas in Sabah, other than Native Titles, land ownership is open to all citizens," he said.Yong recalled that the Prime Minister had, in July this year, stated that the provisions of special rights as enshrined in the 20-Point Agreement must be respected."SAPP's stand is that there is no need to review the 20-Points if it is with a view to remove these special rights," he said.Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) does not see the need to review the 20-Point Agreement which it said is not negotiable.Its Vice-President, Datuk Lee Chuen Wan, said the Agreement was part and parcel of the terms and conditions for Sabah and Sarawak to join the Malaysian federation."The 20-Point agenda has been agreed upon by all parties concerned. The whole system has worked well so far. It is not negotiable, so why should we be talking about amending it?" he said.Lee said the spirit of the 20-Point Agreement must be maintained "until such time when the majority of people in Sabah and Sarawak find that it is a real hindrance and no longer beneficial to them."He contended that the imposition of the rule to produce identification documents, such as identity cards or passports, on residents from the peninsula wishing to enter Sabah and Sarawak is not a hassle."No bona fide West Malaysian passengers has been rejected at the immigration counters on arrival at the airport," he pointed out.On the need for peninsula residents to apply for work permits to work in Sabah and Sarawak, he said this "control mechanism" does not restrict the movement of people who qualify and meet the criteria for employment.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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