Sandakan
is the “eyes” of the dog-shaped head of Sabah
What are the important issues for
the 8th By-election in Sandakan since May 9, 2018 for GE 14 ? This is the first one in Sabah since GE14.
For the record, Rantau is the
seventh by-election since the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9 last year,
with five being state seats and two Parliamentary seats, Port Dickson and
Cameron Highlands.
The
results so far have been 4 for Pakatan Harapan (PH) and 3 for Barisan Nasional (BN) with
Sungai Kandis, Seri Setia, Balakong and Port Dickson to PH and Cameron
Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau to BN
The electoral roll for the
Sandakan seat has 39,856 ordinary voters.
The by-election would be the first anniversary of GE14.
Would this be an assessment or
review of the performance of P H or too early for critical review?
Nevertheless much has happened to
the nation and Sabah in particular especially if the PH’s election manifesto
for GE14 is to be an indicator.
We know the major issues at stake
namely MA63 (rights), GST/SST (cost of living), Project IC (dubious citizens) ;
PDA and oil agreement with Petronas (resources), rainforests (logs), and
Sandakan’s welfare and local economy ( business opportunities, security, and
jobs).
Pakatan
Harapan‘s manifesto 1st Promise was abolish GST but how many people
were aware of Promise 32 out of 60 was: Introduce a tax system that is
people-friendly and entrepreneur-friendly but SST is not so friendly to all
especially the lower level of people as costs of living went on unabated. GST
at 6% was badly implemented and so is SST. Over regulation can “kill”
potentialities in society. GST is definitely a better tax regime if not
lopsided in its implementation processes.
We cannot avoid referring to
the Election Manifesto especially PILLAR 4:
RETURN SABAH AND SARAWAK TO THE STATUS ACCORDED BY THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENT
1963 Promise 40: Implement the 1963
Malaysia Agreement, Promise 41: To
ensure the prosperity of the people of Sabah and Sarawak by enhancing the
states’ economic growth Promise 42: Create more employment opportunities for
Sabahan and Sarawakian youths, Promise
43: Making Sabah and Sarawak a model of harmonious society, Promise 44: Improving the quality of
education and healthcare services,
Promise 45: Advancing the interest of the rural and remote
populations, Promise 46: Protecting the
sovereignty and security of Sabah, Promise 47: Decentralisation of power to
Sabah and Sarawak, . Promise 48: To return and guarantee the right of customary
land of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
Malaysia Baru can be “hollow” for Sabah and
Sarawak if the Pillar 4 of PH’s
manifesto is ill implemented. Maybe the
report of Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) not OSAed can give some
enlightenment on this pillar 4.
Can PH’s
manifesto for GE14 with the pledge “rebuilding the nation fulfilling our
hopes” be implemented as soon as possible when we now know that the
Parliament failed to amend the Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution in
April, 2019 when the minister concerned also come from Sandakan?
Now
the Law and Parliament Minister is talking of Parliament Selection Committee (another
delay) when the Sabah State Assembly passed the motion to support Amendments to
the Federal Constitution.
It
is alleged that the said amendment failed for the refusal to insert the six
words “pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963” in the proposed Bill to amend
Article1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
If
the MA63 is itself an issue, then can we fall back on IGC report, 18/20 points
and the declaration on 16 September, 1963 all part and parcel of formation of
Malaysia?
We
have seen in recent years a lot of domestic agitations over formation of “Malaysia”
with committees after committees and not going any head way. It seems now that “Malaysia”
is dubious and untouchable.
Since
this is started in 1962, and to allay the blame, why not have a round table
conference of the original five parties (except Brunei) who had signed MA63
together with UN to resolve the 55 years of impasse. We desire regional peace. Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia plus UN can
be observers.
Some
people have been talking of referendum, arbitration, international and local
Courts etc but would such measures work?
Assuming
the amendment in Federal Constitution to make the three parties as equal
partners as the original intention is accomplished, who would enforce the
costly implementation? Can it be that business
as usual for 55 years?
We
have also observed how Malaysia has bypassed UN such as ICERD, ICC, human
rights, etc with impunity.
Project
IC is still obvious a grievous matter in terms of human rights for the local to
be displaced by the non citizens despite RCI on Illegal Immigrations Sabah.
Our
oil wealth under our soil is being exploited to benefit outsiders and others
without accountability and justification and RCI on Petronas is very much
desired to establish how the Prime Ministers since 1976 dealt with Petronas.
Much
of our rainforests is replaced by mono crop is also benefitting outsiders with
the locals adapting to the rising temperature of more than 3 degree Celsius
since 1970. The Heart of Borneo is not keeping our hearts cool. Matured trees are still cut for the logs
trade in the much diminished forests only to be replaced by commercial crops
(oil palm and softwood) or small seedlings which may take another 100 years to
mature if ever to abate climate change.
It
is reported that Sandakan Is going through a bleak scenario for some years
already as the ex MP Stephen Wong had it recorded in a video clip. Short of a “ghosts” town once a bustling
timber town, can the by-election with all the pressing issues still very much
neglected make a move over for a better future for Sabah bring back our wealth
as provided in MA63 and stop the sellout of our oil in Petronas as we enter an
era of New Malaysia since GE14.
Joshua
Y C Kong 22/04/2019
No comments:
Post a Comment