WHERE IS THE SABAH AND SARAWAK AUTONOMY?

THE question of autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak was raised in Parliament on the 3rd of November 2010 by the Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. He asked the Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak to state why there is no full autonomy and power given to the two East Malaysian states.

The PM in his answer said that the duties and responsibilities of the Federal and State government are spelled out in the Malaysian National Constitutions under clause 9 and 10 respectively. Under the two clauses, the Federal government will at any time help the two East Malaysian states in their development and economy uplifting. The federal government will assist even with financial aids.

Since the formation of Malaysia, people in Sabah and Sarawak are free to select their choice of leaders through the process of general election. The federal government never involved and interfered with the process of democracy, and given full freedom to the Sabahan and Sarawakain to decide their own destiny and future well being.

Federal government also is responsible to protect the safety of the two states. We protected the rights in Sabah from the Philippines and the border issues with Brunei and Indonesia. This is to show the commitment and responsibility of the Federal government which is supported by all.

On the development aspect, the government never left Sabah and Sarawak behind. The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) have already been launched to push the economy and to increase the income of the people. If the people give their full corporation, the corridor will produce good result and future in the two states.

The issue of autonomy should not be brought up because the government will fulfill their promises and the responsibility fully. Even though if Sabah is run by an opposition party, the Federal government will still give full help and support towards the opposition state. The two states should not dig on the issue of autonomy any more. This is because the opposition in the two states are playing on the issue, and stirring up the sentiment of the people in order to win the votes in the coming general election.

The Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament DR. Hiew King Cheu viewed this answer from the Prime Minister as looking down on the wisdom of the East Malaysian in Sabah and Sarawak. The opposition representatives in two states mentioned the autonomy repeatedly is not to gain votes number but we are trying to remind the federal government not to treat us like second class citizen and can be play around with.

Of course, the Federal constitutions mentioned the rights of the two states and it is a must that the federal should give us the rightful care and treatment under the constitutions, and these had to be respected and carry out. It is no need for us to remind the federal boys. The PM said the federal will at all times help the two states in their development and economy, but what we can see is the two states are now being left far behind, at least 25 years. This is evidence from this year budget allocation, why Sabah and Sarawak put together only a mere 8% (RM9.55 billion) of the total national budget amount.

Why our roads, water and electricity supply, economy, industries, tourism, education, and many others are so far behind and underdeveloped when compared to Semananjong? Are we being treated fairly? Not mentioning the high poverty rate in Sabah.

It is the responsibility of the Federal government to protect our soil in Sabah and Sarawak, and this is also listed in the Federal constitution and the Malaysia Agreement. The PM said even the Sabah government is run by the opposition the federal government will still do the same and equal to the state.

He must be very forgetful, and he has forgotten about the ill treatment imposed on the Sabahan during the PBS opposition government of 5 years from 1990 to 1994. We were given full punishment and funding stopped. He didn’t know the suffering of the Sabahan.

Now, the Sabah BN government still has to listen to KL, even on policies, who to be CM, DCM, minister and even as candidate, if not also have to beg for allocation and funding. We know many BN MPs had made noises in Parliament but still no use and problem remained unsolved after many years. They just don’t care about Sabah and Sarawak. -Sabahkini