Fulfill
Malaysia Agreement or let Borneo States Free
PRESS
STATEMENT
Friday, 16 Sept 2016
KENINGAU:
“Thousands of Malaysians in Sabah converged at the Batu Sumpah Monument today
to commemorate the 53rd Malaysia Day and demanding that the Federal government
fulfill the promises and assurances leading up to the signing of the Malaysia
Agreement 1963 upon which Malaysia was proclaimed as a new Federation on 16th
September 1963.
In
leading the call, Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, the Assemblyman for Bingkor and who is
also President of STAR, said that the dream and aspiration of the founding
fathers of Sabah and Sarawak was to see their homeland as a free and
independent nation with the Commonwealth of Nations.
Malaysia,
he said was their hope of achieving this dream.
But 53 years on, this dream have been shattered by a trial of broken
promises and have become a nightmare for the present Malaysians in Sabah.
Not
even the promises carved in stone at the Batu Sumpah or the pledges written and
expressed in the Federal Constitution, he said.
Sabahans
are now questioning the sincerity and real intentions of forming Malaysia –
especially among the young and educated Sabahans.
Was
Malaysia formed merely as a conduit for the takeover of the British colonies
while they were political infants?
If
so, why did the British and Malayan leaders promised independence and decolonisation
through the formation of Malaysia ONLY to make Sabah and Sarawak sign an
international treaty while they were still colonies?
Why
were the Borneon leaders told that Malaysia would be a “partnership” of equal
status in a new Federation called “Malaysia” but the Malayan United Nation
Permanent Representative was telling the UN that it is merely an expansion of
Malaya whose name will now be called Malaysia but at the same time at the
Proclamation of Malaysia on Malaysia Day it was announced to the whole world
that Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore was to be federated with the Federation of
Malaya?
Why?
Why? Why?
Did
the British conspire with Malayan leaders to “Cheat” and mislead the
politically immature Borneon leaders?
Clearly,
there were contradictions and inconsistencies in the actions and statements of
their leaders the truths of which are revealing themselves today.
The
London Talks between Britain and Malaya in November 1962 and the British
Parliamentary Hansard in London say that the Federation of Malaysia would be a
new Federation of five entities, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (then North Borneo),
Sarawak and Brunei (who pulled out at the last minute).
A.J.
Stockwell in his book, British Documents At the End of Empire, which included
recently de-classified British documents said that the “ultimate objective of
Malaysia is a confederation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei”.
Even
the Proclamation of Malaysia stated that “…. it was agreed that Both Borneo,
Sarawak and Singapore are to be federated with the FEDERATION OF MALAYA …” and
not with the existing States of Malaya.
Dr
Jeffrey said Article 8 of MA63 also clearly spelt out the obligations of the
merging entities including the government of the Federation of Malaya. WHERE IS THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA NOW?
If
Malaya is now Malaysia, then it is clear that the Borneo leaders have been
cheated and misled – this is clearly not what Sabahan leaders wanted – to be
Malaya’s State No. 12 or 13!
What
Sabahans want now, after agonizing for 53 years, is to put things right.
Today,
16th September, they are here from all walks of life and from all over
Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya, to DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:-
(1) that the relationship among the
merging partners of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak be corrected, as 1 of 3 and not 1
of 13;
(2) that a new Agreement and a new
Federal Constitution be drawn based on equal and genuine partnership;
(3) that the Inter-Governmental
Committee (IGC) be reactivated with the participation of Britain to facilitate
(1) and (2) above;
(4) that while (1) to (3) above are
being activated, the pledges, undertakings and assurances contained in the
MA63, the IGC Report and the Batu Sumpah be implemented;
(5) that the urgent and critical
assurances and undertakings of the rights of the Borneo States be
implemented. Among them are:-
(a) political autonomy/franchise, that
is including no political interference from Kuala Lumpur or Putrajaya and
illegal immigrants problem resolved and the electoral rolls cleaned up with no
Project IC voters;
(b) Revenue rights as per Article 112C
and the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution including the 40% net
revenue derived by the Federation from Sabah; the 10% export duties on
petroleum in lieu of the royalties and the 10% import and excise duties on
petroleum products imported into Sabah;
(c) Freedom of religion to be practiced
in words and actions;
(d) Internal security in Sabah to be
shared or concurrent responsibility;
(e) Native rights and Adat are to be
fully respected;
(f) The constitutional rights of Sabah
on land and natural resources to be fully restored and respected with the oil
and gas ownership returned to Sabah;
(g) State education to be Sabah’s
responsibility.
Both
Umno-controlled Federal and Sabah governments should heed the warnings and
advice given by the Chairman of the Cobbold Commission, Lord Cobbold, who said
that:-
“If any idea was to take root
that Malaysia would involve a takeover of the Borneo Territories by the Federation
of Malaya and the submersion of the individualities of North Borneo and
Sarawak, Malaysia would not, in my judgment, be generally acceptable or
successful.”
And
Sir William Goode, the last Governor of British North Borneo, who said:-
“…
Tunku (Tunku Abdul Rahman) must avoid taking over the Borneo Territories as
colonies ….. any impression of being transferred as colonies will provoke a
“Merdeka” movement against Kuala Lumpur, potentially irresistible”
The
signs are already there such as SSKM.
Therefore,
the Federal and Sabah governments with the Sarawak government must resolve
MA63, if they want Malaysia saved from self-disintegration.
The
solemn Commemoration ceremony to mark the 53th anniversary of the formation of
Malaysia was officiated by Datuk Mohd Noor Mansoor, the Chairman of Gabungan
Sabah (United Sabah Alliance-USA) and attended by Datuk Wilfred Bumburing,
President of Parti Cinta Sabah, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, President of SAPP, other
party leaders and a 2,000 strong crowd including a 20-member delegation from
Sarawak led by Priscilla Lau and Moh Hiong King. The Oath Renewal ceremony was officiated by
Chief Bobolians, Longut Gulim and Muri Gulim of Kg. Baru Bingkor, who also
advised that the Batu Sumpah Oath has been renewed and revitalized and that the
leaders who are responsible should take steps expeditiously to honour and
fulfill the Oath Pledges and the terms of the formation of Malaysia or the
historical curse will befall them.
DATUK
DR JEFFREY KITINGAN
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