Tun M missed opportunity to assure Sabahans on restoring state’s rights – Bumburing

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad had the opportunity to assure Sabahans about restoring the state's rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, said Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing.

“He should have ‘taken the bull by its horns' to assure the people of Sabah when delivering his speech at the Bersatu Sabah launch on Saturday, but he did not take the opportunity to do so,” he said.

Bumburing, who attended the launching ceremony, was of the opinion that the Prime Minister could have used the opportunity to address questions and objections to the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore equal partnership of Sabah and Sarawak with the Federated States of Malaya.

He pointed out that the first reading of the Bill had been tabled in parliament and was met with widespread rejection from the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Dr Mahathir should have taken the opportunity to explain on the issue as Pakatan Harapan had promised to amend the Constitution to make Sabah and Sarawak equal partners to Malaya. However, the Bill as it is gives no effect to the objective. This gives rise to the question in the minds of the people of Sabah and Sarawak on the seriousness of the federal leadership on the issue,” Bumburing stressed.

According to him, in the spirit of the Malaysian Agreement and the Federal Constitution, any amendment to the supreme law of the country which affects Sabah and Sarawak must be approved by the respective states of Sabah and Sarawak.

“PCS laud and welcome the stand by most of the MPs from these states on the issue. We urge the PH federal leaders to take heed of the position of the people and postpone the passing of the amendment. We welcome the continued assurance from Dr Mahathir that the government will fight and eradicate corruption in the country. For this policy to be effective, the relevant authorities must be given total freedom to do their job,” he opined.

However, there were many corruption investigations, including detentions, that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had done in Sabah with no outcome, he claimed, adding that these cases and the people investigated were left hanging.

Justice delayed is no justice, Bumburing said, adding that some of these investigations were conducted long before the investigation on 1MDB in which persecution in court is being done.