Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said Sabahans should unite in support of a government that genuinely represents local interests, rejecting external political dominance.
Its Supreme Council member and Vice Youth Chief Yong Yit Jee called on Sabahans to take charge of their future, stressing that only a government consisting of local parties can effectively negotiate with the Federal Government to secure Sabah’s constitutional rights.
“Sabahans deserve self-determination, not external control and dominance. It is time we stand together and build the Sabah we deserve,” he said in a statement, Wednesday, in response to Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent statement about Umno and BN’s confidence in reclaiming dominance in the coming Sabah state election.
Yong stressed that Sabah deserves genuine autonomy, not renewed domination.
“The call for ‘reclaiming dominance’ is akin to recolonising Sabah. Sabahans have long rejected any form of political control that undermines their autonomy. “This approach disregards the aspirations of Sabahans, who have long sought self-determination and the right to shape their own future,” he said.
“On Nov 5, 2024, BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah jointly announced that they agreed to form a core alliance for the state election. “However, Sabahans reject external control and desire a government rooted in local representation.
“BN’s continued push for dominance disrespects the will of Sabahans who want local leaders that prioritise their welfare, not political power plays. “For decades under BN’s rule, Sabah was left behind —struggling with poor infrastructure, economic disparity and mismanagement.
The current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led (GRS) Government is still addressing these issues while striving to emulate Sarawak’s progress.
“However, this can only be achieved through a Sabah-centric government consisting of local parties only. “The path forward is clear: Sabah Government must consist of only Sabah local parties like Sarawak.
Only then can the Sabah Government have genuine autonomy in dealing with the Federal Government to secure its constitutional rights —40pc tax revenue entitlement, 35pc parliamentary representation and full compliance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
