Still one big brother, two small brothers
Published on: Sunday, April 07, 2019
By: Dayang Jambul
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Regrettably none of these statements and writings gives a fair presentation of facts of the position (status) of Sabah in the Federation. Both government and opposition leaders have aggressively given Sabahans the impression that they remain poor because Sabah’s position (status) has been downgraded from a partner of 3 (Sabah, Sarawak and Federation of Malaya to 14 states and that their economic rights had been taken away by the Federation Government. All these are not true and wrong in facts and substance.
The facts of Sabah’s position (status) in the Federation of Malaysia are:
Sabah was granted Independence by the British on 31st August 1963. The British could not hand over its Colonial Territories to another country.
Sabah then joined the Federation of Malaysia on 31st August 1963 – delayed to 16th September 1963 because of Sukarno’s objections.
Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia declared the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963 comprising 14 states. This is despite the fact that Malaysian Constitution provided that Sabah, Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya are 3 equal partners (Singapore left later).
Sabah was administered by the Federal Government of Malaysia since 1963 as one of the 14 states.
After 13 years, in 1976, the Constitution was amended to downgrade Sabah from the 3 partnership to 14 equal partnerships in line with Federal Administration.
Over these 56 years Sabah has been administered by the Federal Government of Malaysia under the purview of Malaysian parliament. Sabah all along was well represented. No representative from Sabah raised the issue of partnership or the Malaysia Agreement of 1963, and that State Rights had been taken away.
After the 14th General Election, both Government and opposition leaders from Sabah demanded the return of the equal right status from 14 to 3 equal partners, recognition of MA63 and rights taken away be returned.
Pakatan Harapan had to agree to these demands rightly or wrongly, in order to replace BN Government. This was the same strategy like the late Lee Kuan Yew when he wanted to take over Singapore which was at that point of time controlled by the communist in the person of Lim Chin Siong.
The late Lee had to work together with Lim. After winning the election Lee claimed he was riding on the back of a tiger. Once in power Lee put Lim in jail. Pakatan Harapan honoured its pledges and formed a Cabinet Committee and agreed to amend the Constitution as pre-1976. So far there is no mention about MA63 and Return of Rights.
Sabahans, have been given and planted in their minds, that they would be richer and prosperous and that there would be employments so that the 300,000 Sabahans working in Malaya can return and be with parents.
Facts remain facts. With the amendment to the Constitution, the administration of the Federation of Malaysia will remain as it has been going on over the last 56 years. Malaya remains the “big brother” of the 3 partners. Malaya has 165 Members of Parliament out of the 222 seats. Sabah 26 and Sarawak 31 seats – that is all. Malaya has more than 2/3 majority.
Malaya with 11 states fully developed and has a population of about 26 million, also provided over 80pc of Federal Revenue. Further, it has 9 Sultans, Malaya to all intents and purposes, will not at any costs even going without Sabah and Sarawak reduce its status as “Big Brother” in the family. Malaya will have 2/3 seats in parliament – the governing body of the Federation.
The “sleeping tiger” has been woken. Under pressure from Sabah and Sarawak demanding this and that, Malaya (The Tiger) will also ask for reciprocal right on legal rights.
Malaya will, initially, for its legal right impose immigration control. This is very simple by way of parliament endorsement or amendment to the Constitution, which Malaya has a 2/3 majority.
The talk about restriction and forbidden that once agreed, cannot be changed, is only on paper. As long as the Federation of Malaysia practices Parliamentary Democracy, those restrictive and prohibitive understanding or paper endorsement can be deleted by Parliament at any time.
Therefore, the illusionary expectation of Sabahans, when the Musang King Durian “jatuh” (drop) to ground it has full of “isi” (flesh), sadly only the “kulit” (skin) there. The flesh has been eaten by Musang.
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