Sabahans must decide own fate come GE14 — Jeffrey

TAMBUNAN: The time has come for Sabahans to decide their own fate and not continue to be dependent on others to decide for them, said Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

“For so long since the Second World War, we, Sabahans, have depended on others to determine our fate and our future despite having attained self-government and towards independence in 1963 and merging with the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia,” said the Bingkor assemblyman in his speech to close a journalism course here on Sunday..

“Look where this dependency on others has taken us,” he said.

Jeffrey said that now, two Malayan leaders, a former PM and the current PM are fighting for power to decide who will get to control the two East Malaysian States of Sabah and Sarawak.

“How should we respond? Do we take side or should we take our own independent stance?” he asked.

“We, Sabahans, must learn from history and from our past mistakes lest we are condemned to continue suffering from the same fate.

“Let us not be easily influenced by political rhetoric and promises. Let us decide our own fate. Let us create our own mould and chart our own future. By doing so, it doesn’t mean we, Sabahans, are anti-Malaya, but are just wanting to assert ourselves, to stress the fact that we can stand on our own and decide what we want for ourselves!

“Yes, we want good leaders and good leadership, who can generate good ideas and policies and translate them into jobs, services and prosperity for the people and for Sabah and Malaysia.

“But equally important is this good leadership must be applied to benefit Sabahans and not the Malayan Agenda,” Jeffrey asserted.

He warned that Sabahans would continue in a journey towards a bleak future if they do not seize this window of opportunity in the 14th general election.