Malaysia an advantage, Gilong tells crowd
Published on: Saturday, October 06, 1962
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Mr Ganie Gilong was met on his arrival by air by OKK Angian, Chairman of the Aping Branch of the Unko, Inche Arif Salleh, Unko Member of the Central Executive committee and chairman of the Keningau-Bingkor Branch, Mr Anthony Undan, and about one hundred OTs and members of the Unko Branch Committees of the area.
From the airport Mr Gilong went to the Padang where he was introduced to the OTs and elders and a number of former Ranau residents who have settled in Keningau.
Inche Arif Salleh was the first to speak. He introduced Mr Ganie Gilong and said how glad the people were to see that he had been able to come to Keningau-Bingkor Branch open.
Mr Ganie Gilong spoke for over three hours. He spoke on the aims and objects of the Unko and elaborated as how the objects are to be attained and stressed the need for cooperation among all members of the Unko.
On the question of Malaysia, Mr Gilong said that Malaysia would be to the advantage of the people, but said that we should not enter Malaysia blindly. He referred to a number of the twenty points, which he said, were the safeguards which the Unko and other parties had asked for when Sabah joins Malaysia.
He spoke about rural development and the importance of land, and enough of it, for the native peoples. The land, he said, was the people’s greatest asset and the people should be careful to use all land available wisely and for the greatest benefit to everyone.
One education, Mr Gilong, said that it was encouraging to find that everyone today wanted to see their children in schools, and he was sure that with Malaysia the tempo of education in the rural areas will be increased because the education policy in Malaya today was to give every child free primary education. Education was essential if the people of the country are to be uplifted, he said.
The Unko Vice-President also stressed the need to get the Usno-Unko settled as soon as possible. He said the Unko and the Usno were like brothers with very similar aims and as members of both Organisations were supported by the native peoples, they should get together and work together for the good of the country and all native peoples.
Cooperation between the Unko and the Usno has already been established, he said, and should go on and it is his hope that the Alliance will actually take place soon.
On the question of a grand alliance, Mr Gilong said that there was a suggestion that all political parties should get together to find out ways and means of working together and if possible to form a “Grand Alliance”, but, he went on, he was not quite sure yet about the response to the suggestion. He hoped that all the people in the country will find a way to work together for the good of the country and an citizens of Sabah.
Mr Ganie Gilong spoke at some length on the coming district council elections.
He gave a detailed explanation about the meaning of the elections and importance of seeing that Unko candidates, carefully chosen candidates, are elected, because these candidates will the people’s representative in the District Council and it is in the Council that the voices of the people can be heard and plans be laid for the betterment of the people.
Mr Ganie Gilong also expressed the regrets of the Unko President’s inability to be present at the meeting as he had to go to Kuching for a Preliminary Meeting of the Fiscal Committee of the Inter Governmental Committee on Malaysia. He conveyed to them the Huguan Siou’s best wishes.
OKK Angian and Mr Anthony Undan also spoke and urged the people to make sure that the Unko candidates will get the biggest number of votes in the coming elections. Both speakers also pointed out that it is the elections which will show which party has the support of the people, the support and the confidence which will give the elected candidates a mandate when they sit in the District Council.
Mr Ganie Gilong also visited Kampong Baginda and Kampong Bayangan during his visits and was entertained to a big Ramai Ramai Party by OKK Angian at Apin Apin.
He met many of the leaders of the area and is a fluent speaker in Malay and Kadazan.
Mr Ganie Gilong was able to clear all the doubts and fears of the people he met. He expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he enjoyed during his stay in Keningau and promised that he would visit them again soon and would also be visiting Tambunan.
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