AS the Sabah election approaches, we hear the constant echoes of the phrase “vote for a local”.
To truly understand the real meaning of a local party, people must first question if they have achieved political maturity.
Political maturity is when voters can look past all the false promises, the propaganda, the lies, and the racial posturing.
It is only when voters achieve political maturity that they can make an informed decision. That decision will ultimately lead to what is best for Sabah.
People must ask these questions when choosing which party to vote for.
Can such a political party deliver the people’s will? Can it fight for the Sabah forgotten rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963? Or is it just sloganeering, the same thing we have heard for 65 years?
In the context of the government system, Sabah is under a trusteeship system and registered with the United Nations Trusteeship Council. Sabah’s position in Malaysia is an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia.
The Federation of Malaya is responsible for raising and preparing us for self-government and eventual independence as a trustee.
This conclusion was reached by United Nations representatives before the commencement date of the Malaysia Agreement, which was delayed from August 31, 1963, to September 16, 1963.
So, what is our status in the Federation of Malaysia?
We were “federated with” the Federation of Malaya, hence the changes made in the Malayan Constitution to include new states (Borneo states and Singapore) in the mix that is to be called the new Federal Constitution, under the Federation of Malaysia.
The words “federated with” effectively made our status in the federation as a confederation system because it indicated that existing laws are aligned with the respective state constitution to be a ready-made country, so federal law could not override within the context of the agreed and signed Malaysia Agreement.
Hence, it is important to understand that the Borneo states and Singapore (before the exit) were not part of the Federation of Malaya signed on August 31, 1957. Those were different agreements set up by the British with the Malay ruler back in 1957.
Now let us dwell on the history associated with Malaysia.
The Malaysia Agreement was put on hold during the declaration of the emergency ordinance after the racial riot in Kuala Lumpur that spread all over Malaya.
But it was all peaceful in the Borneo states until the removal of the then Sarawak chief minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan. It marked the beginning of the longest emergency ordinance, from 1969 to 2011.
During the emergency period, all power was shifted to the federal government under public order and crime prevention. The federal government began dismantling Borneo’s rights during this period.
From 2011 to 2018, the people of Sabah had grown tired of the control by Malaya through the Malayan-based party in power.
A political party emerged and it won the state election in 2018. It held up no official alliance with the new federal government but worked closely in amicable conditions.
So, during its brief tenure as a state government, it successfully reclaimed 17 out of 21 rights from the new federal government. That is a far cry in comparison to the past state government over the years.
The Malaysia Agreement has been signed by all parties involved, so there is no room for renegotiations. It is all about implementation.
In conclusion, we need a local political party that will fight for our rights, understand them, and pursue them relentlessly with the federal government.
It is important to understand our status and the entire history of events and to vote wisely.
Only the political parties that have envisioned such a struggle ahead are right for Sabah and its people. – July 3, 2024
Remy Majangkim is an MA63 historian, researcher, and activist