PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has defended Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan hit out at the Barisan Nasional chairman for criticising the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment.
Zaid said Kitingan’s reaction was typical of Sabah leaders who take any opportunity to discredit federal leaders for their own failings, especially near elections.
“Sabah’s poverty and lack of progress were mainly due to its elected leaders, who prioritised themselves, leaving the people behind.
“Who manages Yayasan Sabah? Who were the chief ministers all these years? (Were they) from Semenanjung?” he said in a post on X.
Kitingan had lashed out at Zahid for describing the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment as divisive.
He said Sabahans did not need the permission or validation of federal leaders to assert what was rightfully theirs, and that Sabah was never meant to be a subordinate state but an equal partner with Sarawak and Malaya in the federation of Malaysia.
He also appeared to warn of Sabah possibly leaving the federation, saying this would ultimately be up to Sabahans.
Zahid had criticised the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment as divisive and counterproductive, arguing that maintaining close ties with the federal government was key to the state’s prosperity and development.
Zaid backed Zahid’s remarks, saying leaders must look at issues as a country and a people.
“Stoking the fear of Sabah leaving the federation when they are unhappy with something or the federal leaders worries nobody. Where can Sabah go?
“Our country will not progress if it does not get rid of its obsession with race, religion, and regionalism,” the former Kota Bharu MP said.
