Stop linking Suluks to the illegals woe: Party
Published on: Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Kebenaran Sabah (Kebenaran) shares the concern expressed by three non-government organisations over DAP Sabah Chief Jimmy Wong's recent statement which was described as creating a rift between Muslim and non-Muslim bumiputeras. Its Sandakan branch protem Chairman Datu Omar Ali Datu Bachtiyal said they also find the statement made by Wong, in response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrant Problem in Sabah report, as very sensitive as he touched on racial and religious issues.
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"We hope such talk or statement containing elements which touch on the sensitivity of the community, especially the Bajau and Suluk communities in Sabah, be stopped immediately…we all should work together to find apt solutions to any problem in the State," he said.The party's President Bentan Alamin @ Attad, who is the United Suluk Community Organisation (Usco) President, and other leaders were also present. Kebenaran is among 11 new political parties in Sabah approved by the Registrar of Societies (Ros) in 2013.It claimed to have thousands of members in major districts across the State.
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The said three NGOs – Sabah United Suluk Association (PSBS), Sandakan Suluk Cultural Arts and Heritage Association (Pusaka) and Sandakan Bajau Culture and Welfare Association (PKKBS) – called on Wong to stop exploiting the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants Problem in Sabah report and turning it into a political issue. Acting PSBS President Aishah Datu Bachtiyal who claimed to also speak on behalf of Pusaka and PKKBS said Wong should allow the process to run smoothly without any political interference.
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She said the action by Wong was merely to exploit the RCI report and create a rift between the Muslim and non-Muslim bumiputeras. The three associations also supported the findings by the RCI and believed they could help in efforts to address problems of illegal immigrants in Sabah. Wong was among opposition leaders who regarded the RCI report as "total rubbish" and "not worth the paper it was printed on". Omar said the party is very concerned over the tendency of certain people, particularly leaders of opposition parties from the peninsula, who mix religious and racial matters with politics which can harm the existing unity and harmony among the muti-racial and religion community of Sabah. The party is particularly concerned on the Suluk community being frequently linked to or associated with the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah, he said, adding in its response to the matter it will organise a seminar to re-strengthen the unity and harmony among multiracial communities in the State next month. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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