Confusion about power sharing formula: Harris
Published on: Monday, January 19, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh (pic) said there seems to be confusion about the power sharing formula in Sabah that has been in practice since Merdeka Day in 1963 based on the racial composition of Sabah's population.But, he said, the claim that 20 seats were allocated for Malays, 20 for the Kadazan/Murut and eight for Chinese never existed and was never practised.He said the first general election in 1964 that was based on racial and religious composition saw Usno being a Malay-dominant party winning 14 seats, Upko a Kadazan-based party winning 12 seats and the Chinese through SCA winning four seats.
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"However, during the Parti Bersatu Sabah's nine-year rule, power sharing was not carried out. In fact, Malay and Muslim civil servants were kept aside," he said in a statement.According to him, in the older days the eastern side of Sabah was owned and ruled by the Suluk, while the western part was ruled and owned by Brunei.Thus, the population on the eastern side was predominantly Suluk and on the western side (from Sipitang to Sandakan) mainly Brunei, he said."There were no Malays, no Kadazans and no Chinese," he said.
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When the British ruled Sabah from the 1880s to 1963, migration of workers, mostly from Indonesia, Hong Kong and also the Philippines was allowed, he said.Harris added that thousands of Malays from Malaya were also brought into Sabah as civil servants and especially rubber tappers.
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Thus, the Malay population increased tremendously, he said, adding that the Murut population also increased due to border migration, while a few thousand Chinese also came from Indonesia.Hence, the granting of citizenship on Malaysia Day saw an increase in the population of Malays, Chinese and Muruts.The granting of citizenship by the Federal Government was nothing new.One million Chinese were granted citizenship on Independence Day in 1957 by the Federation of Malaya, which was accepted and not questioned at Parliament meetings, he said."The policy of granting citizenship continues till this day and it was testified by the recent statement made by the Director General of the National Registration Department that a total of 112,239 were given citizenship and birth certificate in Sabah over the last 14 years," he said.The 2010 Census report showed that the population of Sabah was made up of 55.89 per cent Malays (Muslim), 28.96 per cent Kadazans and Muruts and 12.76 per cent Chinese."It is noted that these racial and religious compositions are reflected in the composition of the present Sabah assemblymen and the Government. It also seems no issue has been put forward to the Government on this."At this juncture, it should be pointed out that despite representing only 2.58 per cent of Malaysians, the Kadazan/Muruts have been given three full Minister post in the Federal Cabinet," he said.The claim that the State Assembly seats to be increased to 67 with 39 allocated to the Malays, 20 to the Kadazans and Muruts, and eight to the Chinese is fair based on the racial composition of the State.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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