2019 could be the most challenging year, says STAR Sabah president
KUCHING: The Year 2019 could be the most challenging year for Malaysians, both politically and economically, after 2018 became a turning point in the nation’s history, said Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku ( STAR Sabah) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan.
The 14th General Election on May 9 2018 saw BN/ Umno being dethroned as the federal government which had ruled since 1957 (then under Alliance) when the Federation of Malaya was formed and later the bigger Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
“It also saw the return of the old Umno boss at 93 years young under the victorious Pakatan Harapan ( PH) coalition and as his second stint as the 7th Prime Minister of the new federal government under Pakatan Harapan ( PH),” Jeffrey said in his 2019 New Year message.
The Year 2018 also saw the emergence of hope that the grouses of Sabah and Sarawak and their rights in Malaysia could be addressed.
“At the same time, the voices of Sarawak for Sarawakians and Sabah for Sabahans grew louder and stronger,” said the Keningau MP and Tambunan state assemblyman.
“Although Sabah flowed with the political tsunami in Malaya, there was a constitutional crisis twist with two Chief Ministers being sworn in within 48 hours. Despite a High Court ruling, the appeal is still pending before the Court of Appeal and, most probably, finally at the Federal Court.
“Hopefully in 2019, the law will take its course without any interference from the judiciary and/or the executive, in the New Malaysia.”
The hopes and expectations of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia will grow higher, he added.
“The movement to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s rights will grow stronger partly fuelled and driven by the manifesto and election promises of Pakatan Harapan and angered by the post- election rhetorics in side- stepping their implementation,” he stressed.
So, what is in store for 2019? Certainly, in 2019 there will be more power play and power struggles and expected fluidity of the political dynamics in Malaya. In anticipation of the two-year transition and change of PM-ship in 2020, the relationships between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will dominate the political scene and rumours will only grow stronger. Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah president
These hopes and expectations, Jeffrey said, will not be dampened by excuses in avoiding fulfilment of the manifesto promises or the non-inclusion of the revenue and oil royalty rights in Budget 2019 or the formation of the Special Cabinet Committee ( SCC) on MA63.
“So, what is in store for 2019? Certainly, in 2019 there will be more power play and power struggles and expected f luidity of the political dynamics in Malaya.
“In anticipation of the two-year transition and change of PM- ship in 2020, the relationships between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will dominate the political scene and rumours will only grow stronger,” he said.
The Umno- PAS cooperation will be further tested especially in the by- elections in Cameron Highlands and the Negeri Sembilan Rantau state seat, he added.
He said there also appears to be emerging signs of power struggles in PH particularly between Dr Mahathir and Anwar and between Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia ( Bersatu) led by Dr Mahathir and PKR to be the lead party and internally in PKR between the pro-Anwar and pro-Azmin factions.
Jeffrey said in Sabah and Sarawak, the struggles will be between Malayan parties and local parties with Sabah having the addition of challenges being faced by an unstable Warisan-PH coalition with a now irrelevant Upko.
“With the cases on IMDB and ex- PM Najib coming up, MA63 is likely to take a backseat and pushed into the background. The entry of PPBM ( Bersatu) into Sabah will pose a further check and balance on the Warisan-PH coalition.”
In Sarawak where the state elections are due to be held latest in 2021, the politics will likely see a re- shaping of Sarawak for Sarawakians against Malayan parties foraging for Sarawak seats.
To honour MA63 and autonomy, the state elections should be left solely to Sarawak local parties, he said.