IC project: Tangau can get it reversed

ACTING president of Upko, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau claimed that the people of Sabah would never forget former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s purported IC project is rather obnoxious and seems to be a denial of the many benefits the party reaped as rewards for their alliance with Umno during Mahathir’s era.

Tangau should also remember that he is with the power that can review identification cards issued to foreigners as all he needs to do is to tell his BN comrade, Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Zahid Hamidi or even the Prime Minister to review all identification cards in Sabah with a view to destroy what were illegally issued.

Tangau can also pursue with his government on the need to satiate Sabahans’ call for the RCI on illegal documents headed by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to be acted upon, otherwise what he is claiming now is mere rhetoric.

“I believe the people of Sabah, especially KDMs from PBS, are still reeling at the way their party was dislodged as Sabah state government due to the switching of parties by their former top leaders.

As it is now, what ought to be the focus of KDM leaders should be to reunite the race to work with other races in Sabah so that the people will not continue to be at the mercy of political parties that that are only intent in pursuing their personal interests.

The anger of the people over being short-changed on their resources as well as promises that were never fulfilled must be championed by leaders, most of all those who consider themselves as Sabahans in the current government.

As for Kadazans and Dusuns, they expecta lot from their leaders but the poverty level among them is most glaring and can only be corrected if the leaders are not selfishly over protective of their status and pride.

To make matters worse, each year the KDMs celebrate their Harvest Festival with much pomp and splendour forgetting that they are no longer cultivating paddy which is the very essence of the celebration.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Husin stated last year that Sabah is importing 70 per cent of rice to meet the needs of the population; meaning to say that only 30 per cent of rice is produced in the state.

So what is Harvest Festival all about? Having to use the traditional sickle to cut the paddy stalks as significance when what should be appropriate would be to hold a plastic bag of 10kg rice imported from Thailand or other rice exporting nations.

Kadazan or Dusun political leaders in the government therefore need to seriously look into the affairs of their people, mostly paddy cultivators in the past, and not over indulge in politics that merely ensure their own personal survival.

The state government has to explore the possibility of reviving the Sabah Padi Board as selfsufficiency of the commodity must be a very top priority.

If KDM leaders have been delving mostly into racial sentiments to draw support in the past, it is now utterly shameful that these leaders are also treading on religious sentiments for their survival.

Kadazans, Dusuns and other native tribes in Sabah should have matured over the years and now be drawn into the overall perspective of the State and unite together with others, namely Muslim Bumiputras and Chinese to become one strong multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious stock and thus ensure the wealth of the State can be properly pursued, reclaimed and savoured by all.

A former member of parliament once said to me that the fate of the natives will eventually end up like the Red-Indians, the natives of America, who are now dwelling in reservations and meant to be tourists’ attractions only.

I have some reservation on this statement but if our current crop of leaders is not careful enough, then this might just be the eventuality.

As Sabah, and indeed the whole nation, wait anxiously for the coming 14th General Election it is imperative that Sabahans, especially the natives, ponder on their future and not be sweettalked with assurances from leaders that their survival can only be guaranteed through unity among themselves.

Parochialism, especially, has to be set aside, and selfish leaders plying on racial or religious sentiments for their survival need to be rejected.

Sabah must also ensure its self-sufficiency on rice and other necessities, and the progress of her people in education, technologies and other knowhow has to be the top priority so that the future generation will not become beggars in their own lands.

The State Civil Service has to be restructured also to ensure meritocracy becomes the order and the continued re-appointment of officers beyond their retirement need to be scrapped so that other deserving officers are allowed to implement whatever specific capabilities they possess.

The current leadership has to concede that no one is indispensable.

As it is now, certain political leaders may have forgotten history, as in the case of Mahathir’s sins against Sabahans, but the people must not forget that their survival is of paramount importance and can be guaranteed by a government for the people, by the people and of the people.