SANDAKAN: Sabah Umno wants the authorities to probe and take decisive action for sedition against those who openly agitate for Sabah’s secession in social media.
Its Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said if such actions or provocations are allowed to continue, it would affect the spirit of cooperation, unity and national security and safety of the people.
“The actions of this group is to destroy the country’s economy and that is why Sabah Umno asks the relevant authorities to investigate who is the mastermind,” said Suhaimi, who is also Member of Parliament for Libaran.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police have launched an investigation under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 in relation to a viral video showing the Malaysian flag being lowered and replaced with the flags of Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the incident, which took place in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept 16, was reportedly intended as a symbolic act to mark the end of Malaysia’s “colonisation” of both states and to declare Sabah and Sarawak as republics.
So far, 35 reports have been filed concerning the video – 34 from Sabah and one from Kuala Lumpur.
Suhaimi said even if the provocations were linked to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), 11 of the claims have already been resolved through the MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63), and seven have been finalised under the Unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Nonetheless, he said, any federal-state relationship issue should be discussed amicably, without inciting public anger and spreading irrational thoughts.
“We are confident that step by step the MA63 claim issue will be resolved and if this is one of the reasons that push this group to bring up the issue of Sabah leaving Malaysia then of course it is irrelevant,” he said.
According to Suhaimi, the Prime Minister is so consistent and thorough in ensuring that all the demands of the Sabah and Sarawak governments are met.
In addition, he said, the increase in the interim special payment rate to Sabah and Sarawak from RM300 million to RM600 million from next year is also evidence that the Prime Minister is concerned and deeply understands the issues related to cost increases in both states.
He said this matter arises possibly because there are several local parties and some party leaders in this state raising various sentiments such as pushing and preventing parties from Malaya contesting in the next State election or General Election.
He called on Sabah people not to be easily influenced by this kind of sentiment by not mortgaging the prosperity, well-being and quality of life that has been enjoyed since the formation of Malaysia just to fulfil the political agenda of certain individual or group that is seen to be more concerned with their own political interests than the overall interests of the people of Sabah.
