SAPP Urge To Set Up SPA Sabah

SABAH Progressive Party (SAPP) called on the Federal Government to honour the setting up of the Sabah branch of the Federal Public Services Commission as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

SAPP Supreme Council Member Kent Yong said the setting up of the commission is necessary so that the Borneonisation promises as stated in the agreement could be implemented so as to provide jobs to Sabahans in the Federal Departments and Agencies.

“The number of Sabahans working in the departments and agencies are getting fewer and fewer ever since many Malaysians from other parts of the country especially Semenanjung are being posted here either as director or administration assistants.

“The commission once set-up would definitely correct the imbalances, which is getting serious, “he said.

He said there is no reason for the Federal Government to refuse to set up the commission here because Sarawak already had one.

Kent said the commission as stated in the agreement will have full authority in respect of all appointments, promotions and discipline of the Federal Public Services in Sabah.

He said the Sarawak branch of the Federal Public Services Commission is responsible on matters regarding recruitment and service for members of the Federal Public Service in Sarawak.

He added that its Secretariat provides consultancy services to the public on career opportunities in the public service as well as managing the services of the federal department personnel throughout Sarawak.

He said Article 8 of the Malaysia Agreement stated that the Governments of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak will implement the assurances, undertakings and recommendations contained in the Inter-Governmental Report signed on February 27 in 1963.

According to him, the said Inter-Governmental Report states that Natives of Sabah and Sarawak shall be given preference over other candidates for all the posts in the State and Federal Public Departments in Sabah and Sarawak.

“In other words, all the governments departments in Sabah, be it State or Federal are required to employ Sabahans according to the Malaysia Agreement.

“Unfortunately, the Sabah branch of the Federal Public Commission which will have full authority in respect of all appointments, promotions and discipline of the Federal public Service in Sabah has not been set-up yet, since Merdeka until now,” he added.

Kent further said that Article 153(2) of the Constitution states that the Federal Government must advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to ensure that there is a reasonable number of positions in the Federal Public Service as a whole in Semenanjung and Sarawak (as distinct from the Federal public Service in Sabah) for the Natives in Sabah.

He said Sabahans are entitled to fill up to a quota of reasonable number of positions in the Federal Departments and Agencies here.

Kent went on saying that some argue that Borneonisation is for the purpose of providing employments to Sabahans.

He said that may be true, since at present there are about 81 Federal Departments and 39 Federal statutory bodies in Sabah.

He said all these Federal departments and agencies combined will definitely provide plenty of employments and opportunities to Sabahans.

“But I believe that besides employments, a more cogent reason is that Sabahans must have the right to participate in the administration of Malaysia, because this is the country they formed with Malaya and Sarawak.

He said Sabahans could also contribute to a better Malaysia, and one should not underestimate the talents and gifts Sabahans have.

Kent a prominent lawyer based in Sandakan said two Sabahans , Bernard Fung and Nazib Maidan, have recently filed suit against both the Federal and State Governments for their failure to implement the Borneonisation programme.

He said the two sought answer from the Federal Government whether the Malaysia Agreement in terms of Borneonisation will be honoured or not.

Kent added that the plaintiffs further sought the Sabah Government stand whether the defendant will pursue the Borneonisation programme for the people, in particular the setting-up of the Sabah branch of the Federal Public Service Commission as the first step.

He said SAPP is strongly committed to the service of this cause.

“If given the mandate in the next general election, the Bernard Fungs and Nazib Maidans of Sabah can rest assured that the next Sabah State Government led by SAPP will pursue the Borneonisation programme, unlike the current State and Federal Governments led by Barisan Nasional,” Kent added. (SAPP Media)