By Zainnal Ajamain
Taib Mahmud set the “benchmark”, to paraphrase Sabah’s Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, for his brave rejection of Umno from Sarawak and to uphold the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Within days of his bold announcement at the PBB Supreme Council meeting last month, political players, observers and analysts knew a historic moment had occured in Borneo.
Taib had turned Malaysian politics on its head with his call to protect Sarawak at all cost and there would be wider and deep implications to the present and future of Sabah and Sarawak.
His call resonated with Sarawakians and reverberated throughout the two Borneo states.
While Sarawakians stand confident on the various issues, Sabahans now feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Sarawak has sent a clear message to Kuala Lumpur that it is rejecting Umno because, according to Jeffrey, Umno Baru is not of the same spirit as the old Umno of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s days.
The virtues, principles and benevolence of the past leaders no longer exist in the leadership today.
Taib’s stand received allround embrace in Sabah.
Newly registered Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah or in short PAKAR, president Zainal Nasiruddin described Taib’s message as a breath of fresh air which reminded him of the original struggle by Sabah’s founding fathers.
Sabah Progressive Party’s (SAPP) deputy president Amdee Sidik reminded the people in Sabah that they have to uphold the idea of autonomy as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
He said Taib’s stand reaffirmed that the demand is not just Sabah’s screaming in isolation.
Taib’s statement established that the demand to uphold the status quo of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 signed by Sabah and Sarawak as independent nations is a collective stand.
United Borneo dangerous to KL
With just one statement on Feb 9-10 to his party’s Supreme Council members and Sarawak BN’s MPs and assemblymen, Taib broke Kuala Lumpur’s 51-years effort to isolate Sabah from Sarawak.
A united Sabah and Sarawak is potentially dangerous to Kuala Lumpur.
All of Kuala Lumpur’s problems in Malaya will look insignificant against a united Borneo.
Aside from being the core pillars of Kuala Lumpur’s political power in the last three general election, Sabah and Sarawak is also the main source of Malaysia’s economic strength especially in the last few decades.
Lets look at the current realities. Malaysia is losing its strength in the Manufacturing and Electronic Sectors.
The continuing decline in demand for consumer goods from the United States and Europe is making the situation worse.
For the last decade Malaysia has been depending on its alternative growth engines – commodities, petroleum and gas.
Sabah and Sarawak are the two main producers of these commodities.
Problems in the Borneo states mean more problems for the overall Malaysian economy.
Most people in Sabah and Sarawak understand this situation which is why they loath to cooperate with Kuala Lumpur.
After 51 years of being disenfranchised, marginalized and being taken for granted, the Borneo people are waking up to the new reality – Malaya needs Sabah and Sarawak more than Borneo needs Malaya.
