Kota Kinabalu: The people of Sabah, especially its leaders, have been urged to discard the "servant-master" mentality in dealings with the Federal Government.
Speaking at a briefing for the party faithful, Sunday, SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said such mentality among a majority of current leaders was among main contributing factors for Sabah losing its autonomy and being transformed from a wealthy State to the second poorest in Malaysia today.
"Before we can better understand the current political situation in the country, we first need to understand the formation of Malaysia back in 1963. Sabah did not join Malaysia, we formed Malaysia!
"This is not something that is proclaimed by me. This is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement. We are not a branch of the Federal Government. Sabah is a partner to the Federation of Malaysia," he pointed out.
He expressed disgust over the "servant-like" mentality-and-attitude of some State leaders who always went all out to please their political masters at the Federal level as reflected in the excessive body language when welcoming and sending-off of Federal leaders at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).
On the recent remarks by Barisan Nasional (BN) Sec-Gen Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor likening the relations between Federal and Sabah to that of "father and son", Yong countered:
"We are not sons, we are not servants. We are equal, we formed Malaysia, no Sabah, no Malaysia! We demand 20 per cent for our oil royalties, we want Labuan to be returned to us and we want autonomy for Sabah," he declared, to thunderous applause.
The former Chief Minister also slammed the statement by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mathir Mohammed while campaigning in Labuan back in 1990 that BN does not require the support of Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federal Government as the coalition has enough support back in Peninsular Malaysia.
"That was back in 1990, but today, without Sabah and Sarawak, BN won't be the ruling government. If not because of (support of) Sabah and Sarawak, Pak Lah will now be the Opposition leader," he quipped.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Sabah
09/07/08
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