Will Sabah’s partnership in Malaysia be meaningless?
Published on: Sunday, October 24, 2021
By: Datuk John Lo
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Developing situations will have great impacts on our lives and our future generations. The first one is the impending amendment to the constitution to be tabled next month which is supposedly to reinstate the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners within Malaysia. The 2nd is the just approved 12 Malaysia Plan by parliament on 22 October 2021.
Whether the impacts will meet our expectation is yet to be seen. Let us not be blurry eyed with over-joy with these 2 developing situations.
Equal Partnership in Malaysia?
Be wary, be very sceptical about political partnership. It is NOT pouring cold water to dampen the prospect of reversal for Sabah as a partner in Malaysia. It is just being practical, once bitten twice shy! Here are some pointers to consider.
Full partner in 1963?
In the first place, this Malaysian partnership for Sabah, to my mind, was ill defined. Whatever it was, it has shrivelled to what it is today—-highly unsatisfactory. Most of the older generation, especially Sabahan leaders, was too docile or ignorant or selfish to realise and protect our rights. It has to be said that our members of parliaments [MPs] had voted in favour of many laws which had downgraded our partnership.
Sarawakian leaders have been a lot more “wiser” than our leaders since 1963.
What is equal partner?
Equal authority/power. Equal liability. Equal responsibility. Equal dividends/benefits. The political representation, economic/financial, federal service structure of Malaysia in 1963 have been designed for W Malaysia to be the TAIKO, Sabah and Sarawak the junior partners. With the exit of Singapore, the 2 east Malaysian states’ rights have been further eroded. No MP seats vacated by Singapore have been allocated to Sabah and Sarawak.
Whatever the out come of the coming parliamentary amendment may be, let’s us be practical, equal partnership, to my simple mind, is out of reach. I hope to be corrected on this.
What is junior partnership?
Less of everything, especially funding which is the present situation. Furthermore, Sabah is worse off than a junior partner as our oil and gas have been pumped away, leaving little for our use and indoctrination. Sabah is more like the exploited partner.
If equal partnership is unreachable as is likely the case, Sabahans need this junior partnership to be well defined in the constitutional amendment to the extend that there shall be no ambiguity and sufficient water tight safeguards including holding referendum in Sabah for any dilution of rights to avoid exploitations by outsiders.
Protection of Sabah rights.
Sabah has lost a litany of rights, most of which through our faults. We, as Sabahans, have failed to appreciate and protect them. Expecting non-Sabahans to do so is laughable. The bottom line is if Sarawak can, why can’t we? Ultimately, Sabah lacks quality leadership and statesmanship.
Moving forwards, we must not allow history to repeat itself. Losing rights is easy cos we just give them up without a fight. Regaining them is almost impossible. There is no guarantee. Sabah must have 2 things—-[a] Good, genuine leaders who care for Sabah and Sabahans. Leaders who can put Sabah above all things first. Leaders who can speak up for Sabah with courage. [b] Politicians must transform themselves into economic leaders and speak with 1 voice to protect Sabah’s rights. No unity, rights are meaningless. Fight among ourselves, we destroy Sabah.
12th Malaysia Plan in Equal Partnership context.
Parliament has approved this Malaysian Plan in the spirit of the détente MOU. This détente MOU is W Malaysia-centric. Sabahan political leaders have little or no say in it. All they can do is to say yes and kowtow. Sabah must have our own détente MOU to focus on the followings: -
Equitable share of Development Fund in 12th Malaysia Plan.
PM Ismail has assured 15% to 18% of funds in this plan for Sabah and Sarawak. What we should be allocated must be an equitable amount taking into consideration of—-[a] Sabah’s total contribution to national GDP, especially oil/ gas and oil palm. [b] Federal neglect in the last 50 years. [c] The equitable sum must be sufficient for Sabah to catch up with the more advance states within 10 years. [d] Federal expenditures—-Many states in W Malaysia may have smaller federal allocation but the federal government spends huge amounts in these states, like tens of billions in Klang Valley’s infrastructure. In comparison, federal spends pittance in Sabah. Just look at the snail pace of Pan Borneo Highway!
Sabah must establish a base line on equitable allocation in 12th Malaysia Plan.
Sabah should control 12 Malaysia Plan allocation and implementation.
Present system is that the federal will give the allocation, but Sabah cannot touch it. Sabah has little or no say in the award of tenders. This has no meaning. This is not equal or junior partnership! Decisions made in W Malaysia means W Malaysian companies [cronies] will get the contracts. W Malaysian consultants will sweep all the plums, Sabahans will do all the work, take the risks and chew the bones. The whole system must change so that Sabah can control these funds and reap the benefits of capacity building and multiplier effects from the 12th Malaysia Plan.
The implementation of 12th Malaysia Plan will determine the quality of Sabah’s partnership in Malaysia—-equal partner? Junior partner? Exploited partner?
Political Unity is Sabah’s Economic Survival.
No unity means history will repeat itself, will destroy Sabah’s economy. All these talks on constitutional amendments and allocation in 12th Malaysia Plan are empty. We have heard all the pleasantries from W Malaysian and our own politicians in the last 50 years. Sabah is still the richest in resources and has the largest number of poorest people Malaysia.
Change those politicians who don’t unite and work for Sabah.
Sabah must have the détente MOU for unity as soon as possible.
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