My Sabah marks second anniversary with some progress

Two years since its inception, My Sabah has seen some progress in its efforts to defend and regain the rights of Sabahans.

Led by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, My Sabah’s progress included securing a verbal promise from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to not only defend the rights of Sabahans contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 but to further promise to return the powers to the State that had been taken by the Federal Government, intentionally or inadvertently.

My Sabah secretariat, Datuk James Ligunjang, issued a statement to its members yesterday which read: “This week marks the second anniversary of My Sabah’s existence. It had its inaugural meeting on 19th March 2016 in Kota Kinabalu. My Sabah comprised of concerned Sabahans from diverse groups of people, such as politicians across the political divide, senior retired government officers, professionals and ordinary folks under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.”

“It was formed with the view to assist the State address some of the important issues affecting Sabah, especially with regard to its constitutional rights contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said.

“It has been incessantly accused of political posturing, especially towards Datuk Seri Panglima Anifah Aman, when all we cared for was the welfare of the people of Sabah,” he lamented.

“According to him, My Sabah is aware that it has become political fodder for political parties and activists alike, which unfortunately shows some measure of ignorance as to the details and complexities to restore the rights of Sabah that requires numerous amendments to the provisions in the Federal Constitution for full compliance to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Ligunjang explained that My Sabah has a dual role, firstly, to inform and educate the public on the rights of Sabahans embodied in the Federal Constitution, and secondly, to assist the State where possible to seek redress from Putrajaya for the benefit of the State of Sabah and Sabahans in particular, in aiming for a better Malaysia in general.

“Under Anifah, with the assistance of the unselfish members investing their time and commitment to the cause, has led My Sabah in making inroads with what it is championing out to do,” he pointed out.

“Since the inception of Malaysia 55 years ago, no Prime Minister of Malaysia had previously made such an unequivocal commitment to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

“We, the people of Sabah, have good reason to celebrate and appreciate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for his commitment, and he should be supported to continue his premiership to enable him to deliver on his promise to Sabah and realise the dreams of its forefathers as to what Malaysia should be so that the people of Sabah can progress in tandem, economically, socially and harmoniously with the rest of the citizens of the Federation of Malaysia as promised by Tunku Abdul Rahman during the formation of Malaysia in 1963,” he said.