By: AmDe Sidik on Tuesday, 11 January 2011 at 21:39
This article is my response to queries I received from general public since the last few days.
The question posed to me at the capacity of Deputy President of SAPP over the development of United Borneo Front-UBF, an NGO that was launched by Dr Jeffrey Kitingan a few weeks ago.
The questions: How different if any or how similar are the struggles of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) compare with United Borneo Front’s (UBF)
My answers; in two parts, SAPP a political party has long formulated it areas of struggles and second my personal views.
Of course there are similarities. Below are among the areas that SAPP has been trying to put across to the people of Sabah.
As far as I’m concerned it still requires fine-tuning or revision. Experience after the Batu Sapi by election may be useful in as far how to say what we think.
I think SAPP declaration below need to be made easy. In other words, be made explicit yet easily understood by masses, especially on definition what we means by autonomy. Briefly here are portion of the SAPP declaration.
1. The Government shall be of the people and based on Good Governance and Civil Society and non-racial politics based on a progressive, just and harmonious society
2. That Sabah shall have political autonomy whereby the government shall be formed and run by the people of Sabah
3.That Sabah and other oil producing States shall be entitled to petroleum royalty of 20%
4.Those unfair and imprudent Federal laws which have been extended to Sabah and federal departments and which are to the detriment of the State shall be reviewed
5.That Sabah shall be given fair and just participation in the federal administration, the civil service and private sector, and that the federal departments in Sabah shall, as far as possible be headed by local Malaysians
6. That the Federal Government and the State Government shall put sufficient resources, political will and leaders in solving the illegal immigrant problems in a firm but humane manner, with emphasis on regional concept and smart partnership
7. That the Federal and State Government shall together work on redressing the in built structural imbalances in the economy and social structure of the country affecting Sabah and other states.
As of UBF materials, which was handed to me some days ago:
1. Demand for establishment of a Compliance Mechanism to the Malaysian Agreement 1963
2. Demand for a Fairer Revenues Sharing Formula and Representation at the Federal level
3.Restore Sabah and Sarawak status as equal partners in the Federation
4.Protect the Native Rights as enshrine in Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution
5. Demand for an abolishment of the Cabotage policy
6.Narrow the Economic and Digital Divide
7.Resolve the PTI /Project IC problem
If you look at the two declarations one by SAPP and other UBF are almost similar.
What we talk about is Borneonisation, it all pointed to the Agreement, except SAPP declaration is bit wordy, may be we are trying to be polite and this is where I think we need to make simpler perhaps be straight forward.
For my personal views, yes, Dr Jeffrey had been my boss many years ago and friend ever since. Though I've always kept my distance in politic not because of him but because some people around him many weren't my favorite.
We discussed many things about Borneo until to the very day. I knew he wanted me to join PKR a few years back but again I only wanted to be associated with something close to my heart and my priority in politic is to represent those who have been betrayed and played out like most of us in Sabah. Its my ideal to see that one day Sabah leaders come to their sense and check the inventory what we have lost and what we have gained with the current political system. And as for me, I want it changed. How ? this is where we need to think.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/01/13/jeffrey-may-turn-ubf-into-political-force/
HJ AMDE SIDIK
Date: 12 January 2011
Via iPad
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Cyril Masuil and Japiril Suhaimin like this.
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Clement Lee SAPP not only fight for Sabah autonomy and 20 points. SAPP want to bring Sabah to be developed as one of the top place to live in Malaysia or even South East Asia provided with good basic infrastructure and public utilities. We want to see our people to be in good wealth, peace loving and healthy.
11 January at 23:17 · LikeUnlike
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Birispunya Biris
the boss of SAPP is a tainted leader, a gone leader...SAPP should has new pres. to increase its appeal to the Sabahan public.A new pres means a renewed party.....AS, it is has been perceived that you rarely turun padang to diseminate the SA...PP's declarations or look into plights of the people,..no wonder lah people querry YOU and SAPP.
AUTONOMY for SAPP means Sabah state government is local like SARAWAK, and not ruled by a political party from west Malaysia. This is what good about SAPP but the pres is a hindrancein its struggle.
Autonomy for ubf means broader than what SAPP is perjuangkan, ubf want SABAH to be like former Singapore as equal partner of Malaya to form, to constitute and build Malaysia.This autonomy can be counted, but most Sabahan today don't count it.See more
11 January at 23:39 · LikeUnlike
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AmDe Sidik BB, I've just been in the party. I go according to my manageable pace. I don't have big ambition. Perceived rarely turun padang perhaps by a few but won't bother me. If there are more you can teach me as to how? I'm prepared to turun padang with you for the good of Sabah people- just sms me.
11 January at 23:52 · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
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Valentine Yapp ...all the way AS!
12 January at 01:22 · LikeUnlike
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Clement Lee BB: Your accusation on our party president based on your slandering without FACT and SUBSTANCE. Maybe you can tell me who is the clean opposition in Sabah? Dr Jeff? Muahahaha
12 January at 12:26 · LikeUnlike
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Jurin Gunsalam The Sabahan leaders should sit down together and discuss about the future of Sabah in the Federation. Bygone be bygone..look at our next generation.
13 January at 11:20 · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
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Birispunya Biris
AS, thank you for your brave comment. I am admired by your past ideas and contribution to the public of Sabah. Many are notable and did help many Sabahan including myself. I am jealously doing the same in my own way and world and I believe ...that you also agree with Joseph Badarraco's philosophy of leading quietly, and had observed that quiet leaders resolve big problems through a long series of small efforts. But jumping straight into politics might had increased the demand from us especially in Sabah where leadership or leading is defined by laymen as serving them, the people.
CL,.. I am sure that you didn't forget all the stories on Daily Express talking and evaluating YTL's performance and Integrity prior and during the Batu Sapi by elections. Lots of negative comments about him serve as reasons and cannot be ignored. He failed miserably to fish Chinese vote and this fact should tell you something from my point of view. By asking me further who are the clean opposition in Sabah doesn't justify your reason to accept YTL to continue to lead SAPP. Your question is unethical and only shows me that you think egocentrically and self-centered.See more
13 January at 22:20 · LikeUnlike
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Clement Lee Biris, regarding the chinese in batu sapi was cheated by DAP. I am the chinese and I knew how cunning is DAP to cheat the chinese at batu sapi. The good news is based on my source, the sandakan chinese will not support DAP in the coming GE13.
13 January at 22:34 · LikeUnlike
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Birispunya Biris CL,...I must say I love SAPP, and intended to give my energy, time and resources to its struggle, but I really need to be convinced that YTL is not a hindrance or does he has a plan to be an adviser in the near future and pass the pres button to no. 2 ? Preferably, SAPP should be a party of choice for Sabah, not DAP.I respect your perjuangan in SAPP.In many ways I had supported SAPP...you know or not it doesn't matter.
13 January at 22:42 · LikeUnlike
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Clement Lee Thank you.
14 January at 00:35 · LikeUnlike
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Johnny Chin
Birispunya, I somehow agree with ur most recent comment...the question of "pres button to no. 2?" If YTL can have a capable leader, I don't see any problem to pass it to no. 2..as he had done before to Tham and Raymond...It is the struggle ...that really meant...whether YTL wants to be CM or not is not a matter....Time to think...what for he still fight for Sabahans..while he can actually retire and enjoy peacefully.
To me, I can call it quits, but not like YTL, which I admire, for his fervent, fighting spirit, the desire and caring attitude to see and make good things happen for the people of Sabah.See more
14 January at 01:07 · LikeUnlike
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Birispunya Biris
JC,...my opinion is party 'cleansing' need to be done, to renew its vigor, image and uplift its character...to enhance its appeal to the Sabahan especially the older generation. A balance need to be strike out between YTL as a 'baggage' in... the party and his fervent capacity.
The party must be decisive on this issue. May be, YTL can be given a special position as senior adviser like Lim Keng Yeik of Gerakan. And most importantly, SAPP's opponents will run out of issues to discredit SAPP in next GE.
It has been widely known that majority Sabahan don't want YTL as CM. And as long as he is still the president,people won't stop thinking or stop believing that he's not up for CM. this way SAPP will lose votes.See more
14 January at 02:20 · LikeUnlike
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Farid Fais Abdullah
BB n others, fair comments but rightly or wrongly in politic perception is leading to influence the public. the important thing is how the perception develop and what is the reaction of the public, it can be positive and it can turn into ...negative..
If it is negative, damage control has to be done. practically changes have to be made if necessary but to what extend, it can be minor and it can be radical.
Having said that, we can not just take a negative perception and condemn a politician, we have to see a bigger picture of his or her vision, policies and long term objectives of the struggle.
My perception to SAPP is that it has people at heart and a genuine struggle to unite the people of Sabah for a Change, they have made sacrifices by withdrawing from a component party in government..their reasons and objectives has been shown in the medias.
How to realise the Change with so many opposition parties? will they compromise each other? All the opposition parties having the same objectives i.e to topple the BN government.
I think Sabah base parties and the KL base parties should have a common understanding how to tackle MPs and ADUNs, Local parties should hold more seats in DUN and KL base parties should hold more seats in Parliament. a win-win formula should be established before 13th GE. Sabah Autonomy should be returned to sabah. All the best.See more
14 January at 18:44 · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
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Clement Lee
BB: It has been widely known that majority Sabahan don't want YTL as CM. And as long as he is still the president,people won't stop thinking or stop believing that he's not up for CM. this way SAPP will lose votes.
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I beg to diffe...r your above statement. For prk batu sapi case, PKR put up a pribumi candidate but get much lesser pribumi votes than YTL and yet YTL got better pribumi support than PKR pribumi candidate. What say you?
As for PBS won if not because of $$$$ then what else? God's know!! I believe the rakyat Sabah has awaken and will vote with their heart out who is sincerely fight for Sabah autonomy if not SAPP in the coming GE13.
Do not forget, a local SAPP is fighting alone against the whole Malaysia be it UMNO, MCA, PBS, Gerakan, UPKO, LDP, DAP, PKR and PAS.
I am proud to be Sabahan and proud to support our local party lead by Sabahan, manage by Sabahan, control by Sabahan, decision making by Sabahan. NOT OUTSIDER!See more
14 January at 21:18 · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
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Johnny Chin CL, agree with you...what we need are leaders brave enough to lead SAPP and continue with its struggle for Sabah lead by no outside parties..Jeffrey has tried to flirt with PBS but sadly to say PBS cowards are more comfortable under their Umno bosses.
Saturday at 00:11 · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
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Birispunya Biris
I get the impresion that the status quo in SAPP need to be maintained without major changes. My personal analysis and belief is that SAPP and YTL as a founder are synonymous and therefore his current and past political history have a big im...pact on decision of voters in coming GE. I am a bit pessimistic as the element of newness is not there and DAP and PBS will continue to be the major culprits for SAPP. The most I could foresee is SAPP could only catcth several ADUN seats.
Thinking out of the box, I could not rule out the possibility that SAPP will be naturally repeating PBS circumstances in 1985 to its advantage. I think it's really possible, provided the pres. is new. Anyway, thanks CL, FFA and JC for the insightful discussion. I had gauge your level of confidence in SAPP.See more
Saturday at 01:30 · LikeUnlike
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Johnny Chin BB, should you want to meet up with YTL...it wud be better 4u to understand what SAPP is about....cheers
Saturday at 02:27 · LikeUnlike
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Clement Lee BB: In SAPP, we are thinking in-side-out the box. Not only outside the box. LOL
Saturday at 17:51 · LikeUnlike
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Abdul Jalil Haji Ghani
Gentlemen, please allow me to barge in. As it is now, it looks like none of the opposition parties is strong enough to topple the Barisan Nasional government. Just imagine, UMNO can command at least 30 seats, PBS, UPKO,PBRS may be 20, LDP, ...MCA,Gerakan take 8-10 seats. There are only sixty seats up for grab! Can Keadilan capture any seat from UMNO given the fact that its leading representative is a political novice? I have been observing Sabah politics since USNO time and I don't see how an unknown politician and a political novice in PKR can hope to unsettle the UMNO stalwarts. DAP may get one or two seats and at the most, three in Chinese areas. PAS no way! Now, what about SAPP? By being practical, we must accept the fact that SAPP is Datuk Yong Teck Lee and vice-versa. At the moment,it is still seen as a Chinese-based party. The involvement of the other races is negligible. So, SAPP cannot function without Datuk Yong Teck Lee. However, how many seats can SAPP gather in the next election? If SAPP desires to singly form the next government, as it is now, it is next to impossible! So, how can we say that we want to topple the Barisan Nasional government?
I have seen a lot of condemnations against the Barisan Nasional government but sad to say, they are just barking into thin air! What is the point of swearing, cursing and condemning the Barisan Nasional government? The issue is how can you all contribute to win the next election? Dreams, hopes and desires in the real and current political arena are not the magic carpet to fly you to the State Assembly or Parliament! Think and think how to win the next election! If you can't come up with the magic formula, might as well join the Barisan Nasional parties and live happily ever after.See more
11 hours ago · Like
