Let's give Mahathir a chance: Jeffrey
Published on: Tuesday, January 01, 2019
Papar: Sabahans should give the opportunity for the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to review the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which related to many vital Sabah rights.Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) President Datuk Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan said they must give themselves the hope to think that something positive will come out from all the measures taken by the current Federal Government to return Sabah's right to the people and State."This is not a political gain and we are saying is that we believe in it (Federal government efforts to review the MA63). Therefore, we give them the six months to prepare the final report after the Cabinet Special Committee held its meeting to review the MA63 on Dec 18, 2018.ADVERTISEMENT "Let's give Dr Mahathir the chance. I hope this man who has been the Prime Minister for the second time to do the right thing. I still can say he can undo the damage that has been done before. I still give him a little hope."Why I say 'little hope' because he was there (in power as PM) before and he didn't do it (review MA63 for Sabah rights). And now, he is there again (as PM), I give him some hopes," he said.Dr Jeffrey said this to reporters after officiating a Christmas Open House organised by a non-governmental organisation, PIPA/KPPDDJK Papar at the Waterfront, Kg Mandalipau here, recently.On the first meeting of the the Cabinet Special Committee by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the two Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, Dr Jeffrey said the people of Sabah should give a chance to the new government reviewing the MA63 as well as Sabah rights in it and the Federal Constitution.ADVERTISEMENT He was asked to comment on a recent meeting of the Cabinet Special Committee by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad together with the, Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg, were among thos who attended the historical event on Dec 18.It was reported that the aim of reviewing the MA63 is to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as partners in Malaysia, instead of being one of among 13 states, which was effected in 1976 through Parliament.
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The paper reported that issues presented and discussed included the proposal to restore the autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak governments in matters such as finance, oil exploration, mining and gas, legislation, land and revenue from land, Federal and State works, maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries, labour, and state public service, among others.The Committee will meet once every two months and be given six months from the date of the meeting to present the Final Report."If after that (six months of the meeting) nothing happens, then obviously we have to think of something else in terms of taking action," he said.To a question, Dr Jeffrey who is also the Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) Co-Chairman said there are many type of actions that the people of Sabah can consider to take if the result of the Committee meeting was not fruitful."There are many things that we (people of Sabah) can do (if nothing happens after the final report is out)."One is to vote out the present government (in upcoming general election) and second, we can organise a referendum. "But if the referendum has to come from the Parliament under Referendum Act, then we can overcome that by tying ourselves with United Nation (UN) rights of community do determine or decide their own future which is self-determination outside the scope of the Malaysian Parliament," he said.He said the referendum refers to whether Sabah people and the State should continue to remain or exit.Dr Jeffrey who is also the Keningau MP also urged the Federal leaders to take seriously the consequences for not complying with the MA63 and implementing the Sabah rights in the Constitution.The reason, he said is because the people of Sabah have been waiting for about 55 years and they may have enough already."I do not mind going to jail to remind them (Federal leaders) and to say whatever need to be said, even if I say to them that they better resolve or we dissolve or you fix it or we exit. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"This has to be said. If you (Federal government) don't do it, then you are pretending," he said. - Hayati DzulkifliPhoto Source: Bernama