Warisan slams Madius over RUU355
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah yesterday slammed the acting president of United Pasok Momogun Organization (Upko) Madius Tangau for his insistence that there is nothing wrong with the co-operation between Umno and PAS on the Amendment of Act 355.
Warisan treasurer general Terrence Siambun said Tangau should stop treating Sabahans as stupid and gullible.
“Upko has been very vocal in rejecting the tabling of RUU355 to the extent that its secretary general, Donald Mojuntin had confidently said the amendment to increase the punishment was against the Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“And now we have Tangau saying that Upko views the cooperation between Umno and PAS through the tacit support of Najib Razak to Abdul Awang Hadi to table the latter’s Private Member Bill as ‘normal’ because it relates to the akidah for the Muslims.
“Does Tangau really think that Sabahans are that stupid?” he asked.
“When Upko said it rejected the bill, the party should have also opposed the co-operation between Umno and PAS not because of akidah but because the Act may open the floodgates to an Islamic system here in Sabah,” he said in a statement.
Siambun also reminded Tangau that not all Malaysian Muslims and Malays welcomed the increase in punishments under the amendment and that it was the role of BN federal ministers from Sabah to argue the case for Muslim Sabahans.
“The Federation of Malaysia is being built on a foundation of secularism and never was intended to be an Islamic country, and I believe many Sabahan Muslims would reject the idea of Malaysia or even Sabah becoming like Pakistan or Iran.
Barely two weeks ago, Siambun quoted the former Chief Minister of Sabah, Harris Salleh who had said: ‘ ... it is the responsibility of BN Sabah presidents, deputy presidents and vice presidents from Sabah to argue the case in relation to Sabah’s rights but many did not do so perhaps because they fear losing their ministerialship position.’
“So is Harris talking about BN politicians such as Tangau in this case?” he asked.
Siambun also wanted to know what was the position of other BN Sabah component parties on this issue.
“Being the smallest party in BN Sabah, I believe Upko may have been instructed to come out with the statement as representative for the other bigger parties in the likes of PBS, PBRS, LDP and others.
“So, I reckon PBS, PBRS and LDP must now enlighten Sabahans on the co-operation between Umno and PAS on RUU355; it is a very simple question of whether these parties are agreeable to it or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, Siambun rebutted the contention by Tangau that Upko could win back the Penampang parliamentary seat this coming general election.
“What is he talking about? Darell Leiking has been reprimanded so many times by his former party (PKR) due to his vocal objection to PAS’ RUU355, when that party was still part of Pakatan Rakyat, and even had trouble with the Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor over the issue.
“This itself shows how much principle he has and an unwavering defence of secularism and Sabah’s rights and privileges that he is willing to lose everything.
“Now compare that to Upko; one minute the party says it will fight to death on RUU355, and the next minute it says RUU355 is OK because Najib and Awang Hadi has co-operation and agreement over it.
“Does Upko really think that Penampang folk do not read newspapers or news and will vote for Upko just because that party gives them goodies?
“No, Penampang is in dire need of a strong leader who can display the strength of principle in issues relating to Sabah’s rights and privileges and not a leader who would blindly follow the script provided by his Malaya masters,” he said.
“When BN and PAS eventually pass to law the amendment to RUU355 through Hadi’s private members bill, this very act will destroy the fabric of the federation,” he added.