Kota Kinabalu: Barisan Nasional (BN) is no longer relevant as it has failed to respond effectively and positively to the problems and aspirations of Sabahans for the last 45 years, said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President said BN leaders, especially from Umno, do not seem to realise that times have changed and Sabahans now were more educated, more politically aware, more evaluative, perceptive and have access to facts and information despite a controlled media.
Responding to the statement by Chief Minster Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman when opening the Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) 13th Biennial Delegates' Conference on Sunday asking Sabah BN members to double their efforts to ensure BN remains relevant, he said:
"Will the BN members listen to the Chief Minister's urging to double their efforts when the Prime Minister does not act positively on their leaders' demands?"
Jeffrey said it showed that the BN system no longer works and is indeed irrelevant. Nonetheless, he agreed with SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee that the present political situation has offered a new way out for Sabah.
"And Sabahans should seize this opportunity to act and change course quickly if we are to escape from the out-of-date colonial style exploitative divide-and-rule of Umno," he said.
"Sabah BN leaders together with their counterparts from Sarawak must realise and act in unison to achieve something historical for Sabah and Sarawak.
"But they have to act fast, for that window of opportunity may disappear for another 45 years! Pakatan Rakyat is now the best emerging alternative," he said.
Jeffrey said the revelation by Datuk Tham Nyip Shen of the sorry conditions of Sabah is a great testimony of BN's failures and neglect of Sabah. "Despite its oil and forest wealth, Sabah has become the second poorest in Malaysia with the largest number of poor," he said.
