‘20 Point Safeguard initiative of main political parties in Sabah’

KOTA KINABALU: Former Uni ted Nat iona l Kada zan Organisation ( Unko) deputy secretary- general Tan Sri Majid Khan has asserted that the ‘ 20 Point Safeguard’ submitted to the Inter Governmental Committee, prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963, was the initiative of the main political parties in the then-North Borneo (Sabah).

As such, he said, it was unfair to claim that the 20 Point was solely a Chinese-led initiative, as reported in the media.

“This is an insult to our founding fathers. It is very mischievous and a deliberate attempt to change the history of our nation.

“This is also an insult to the natives of Sabah which constituted 80 per cent of the population, for not being able to come with a leader to fight and safequard the interests of their people. That’s why I felt I am duty- bound to correct this misconception,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.

Former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Peter Lo was quoted in a local newspaper dated Sept 13, as saying that the ‘ 20 Point Safequard’ was a Chinese- led initiative.

“Tan Sri Peter Lo may have contributed to the 20 Points but it is preposterous to solely claim that it was a Chinese-led initiative,” he said.

Recalling the event prior to the formation of Malaysia, Majid said the late Donald Stephens (then Tun Fuad Stephens) was the chairman of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee ( MSCC) and Unko president.

“He ( Dona ld) , w i th the assistance of the late Peter Mojunt in, who was Unko secretary- general, and I, being the deputy secretary- general compiled all the points initiated by the various political parties in existence in Sabah before the formation of Malaysia.

“This resulted in the final 20 points that were submitted by the late Donald Stephens to the Inter Governmental Committee chaired by Lord Lansdowne and the (then) Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Abdul Razak Hussein who was then deputy chairman of the committee.”

Majid said the 20 Points were contributed by the four major political parties namely, Unko, Usno led by Tun Mustapha Datu Harun, National Pasok Momogun Organisation led by G. S. Sundang and the United Party led by Khoo Siak Chew.

“I wish to state here that the founding fathers, after having satisfied themselves fully that the safeguards were in place, only then reached a decision to sign the Malaysian Agreement, together with Sarawak, Singapore and Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, to form the Federation of Malaysia,” said the 69-year-old veteran leader. — Bernama