Local parties will better protect Sabah’s autonomy, interests – SAPP

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s unique culture and history require governance by local parties to better protect its autonomy and interests, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice president Gee Tien Siong.

Gee frankly states that Peninsular parties expanding into Sabah represent a disguised form of proxy colonial rule. When these parties control the Sabah Legislative Assembly and parliamentary seats, Sabah loses its autonomy.

To defend Sabah’s rights, he chooses to serve Sabah’s local parties. He believes only local parties can truly understand and meet the needs of the Sabah people.

He urges native-born Sabahans to have confidence in and support local parties to achieve greater autonomy (or strengthen self-governance), while resisting the continued erosion by external forces.

Born in Johor, Gee moved to Sabah with his family when he was 10 years old. Educated, raised, and working in Sabah, he holds deep affection for this land.

Gee echoes the call of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, urging the federal government to return Sabah’s rights under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63). He views the federal government’s refusal to fulfil MA63 as tantamount to colonising Sabah and Sarawak.

He hopes the federal government will stop delaying and immediately return the rights Sabah deserves under MA63, including 40per cent tax revenue, oil and gas royalties, and regain 35per cent of the seats in the Parliament.

Gee also called on those who came to Sabah and settled permanently to uphold the spirit of integration and respect Sabah’s culture and customs.

He is confident that through preventing Sabah from being eroded by external (namely Malaya) forces, it can ensure that this blessed land shares the country’s resources more fairly and truly become one of the three founding partners of the nation.