Dare Sabah BN leaders stand up to KL like Taib?

KOTA KINABALU: Are there Barisan Nasional leaders in Sabah bold enough to show the same courage that Sarawak’s Taib Mahmud displayed in speaking up and looking after the interests of his state?

Will they stand up and “protect at whatever cost”  Sabah the way Taib has “single handedly” done and prove themselves to be brave Borneo patriots or remain proxies and stooges to Kuala Lumpur?

These were the questions Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan threw at Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and his leaders yesterday following Taib’s call to his successor and Sarawak BN coalition leaders and elected representative to safeguard Sarawak’s rights and interests.

“How wonderful it would be for Sabah if all Sabah BN leaders, at all levels, were to make a similar stand to protect and safeguard Sabah’s rights and interests … and show that they are also true patriots of Sabah and not meek leaders and stooges of Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Kitingan said Taib’s statement that his successor should ensure Umno and its brand of racially divisive politics is kept out of Sarawak and to vigorously protect the state’s rights as spelled out in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 was demonstrating patriotism for Sarawak and Sarawakians.

Kitingan went on to credit Taib for safeguarding Sarawak from problems faced by Sabah.

“Sarawak has been spared the problems of Sabah by the single-mindedness and single-handedness of the outgoing Chief Minister,” he said.

The Star Sabah chief went on to point out that the Umno Baru of today,  since 1988/89, is not the old Umno of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s days.

He said the virtues, principles and benevolence of the past leaders of old Umno is no longer in existence in the Umno Baru leaders of today.

“The nation-building with emphasis on peace, harmony and inclusiveness of old Umno has been replaced with people-dividing and nation-wrecking based on racist, religious bigotry, intolerance and hatred overtones, strategies and policies.

Umno leaders, he said had turned Malaysia into a dictatorial regime with an all-powerful and all-conquering attitude that has even spread down to the grassroots leaders and Umno-linked NGOs.

“They are prepared to be violent and often chase other peace-loving Malaysians from the country,” he said.

He also accused Umno of turning a model multi-racial, multi-religious country into a racist and supremacist nation and for taking it to the brink of bankruptcy through mis-governance and abuse of power.