It is indeed a waste to cry over spilled milk and now Pulau Batu Putih is officially Pedra Branca. Indeed what happened today add another blot to already bleak scenario of this country of ours. I was so disappointed by the verdict since the court has earlier stated that there is no question over the sovereignty of the rock island as earlier as the 1500
Being colonised is certainly a very painful experience. How a brief reply from even a petty officer has severely caused irreparable damage to a country years later. This episode also based on what have been observed by ICJ shown lackadaisical attitude of the locals although they realised that something was not right. Such attitude today caused us the tiny but significant rock island near Johor.
Living in a nation like ours which has for years are crowded with foreigners should served as a wake up call for the power of the day to immediately look into solutions for this headache. Taking for granted the severity of such problem will certainly cause even severe consequences from the Pedra Branca episode.
Sadly, instead of discussing and revealing the dire consequences of the decision, once again the private TV station instead keep on harping on the UMNO issue as if the losing of Pedra Branca is of no significance. Maybe they don't want to create panic among us but we need to know the truth although it may not be pleasant so that everyone can be prepared and most importantly to renew our waning determination to safeguard this country of ours from being colonised by those foreigners.
Issue of illegal as well as legal immigrants who act as if this beloved country of ours is their own should not be brushed aside as a non issue. This issue is very real and concerns every Malaysian and I mean genuine Malaysian not those who called themselves to be Malaysians but seem to champion the struggles of those foreigners or other countries.
Sadly, some instead of championing the rights of the people these opportunists are bent to champion their personal well being like pressuring the Federal Government of allocating or appointing more Sabahans to Federal Cabinet as if by doing so the rights of Sabahans are automatically protected. We have seen that some if not all Sabahans who have or had been in the Federal cabinet fail miserably to rise to the occasions - looking after the deteriorating rights, struggles and needs of the Sabahans.
Our friends in Sarawak seem content to what they have since their leaders know how to use their so called minor position in the Federal cabinet to their advantages. Until today Sarawak is considered as one of the most developed state in Malaysia despite having not so many ministers. Even though, there are some disgruntled voices critical of the present administration in Sarawak but in terms of safeguarding their rights and championing as well as defending the rights of Sarawak, they seem to agree that the leaders have done well compared to Sabah, once considered to be more prosperous than other states in Malaysia.
Giving more posts to those so called representatives of the people will not solve and free of us from so many problems beleaguering Sabah instead I truly believe that the situation will become even worse since the powers are in their hands. Can someone present tangible facts that those who have or had been in the Federal cabinet for so long contributed towards the well being of the people here in Sabah? How long they have been in the Federal cabinet and how much they have effectively contributed and served our interest? Undeniably they have brought some development but it is very limited and not widespread. Have they argued for more Federal posts for Sabahans at least in Sabah? The university which bears our name since its inception is yet to see a true Sabahan leading it, Sarawak in their silence for instance has produced an Education Director General in Datuk Matnor Daim or Datuk Idris Jala, a humble man from Lawas who is now heading the national carrier. How about Sabah? Well, we have Tan Sri Gani as the AG but looking back at our history being a major component of Malaysia for 45 years, does the number commensurate with each other? The answer is a big NO!
Datuk Fauzi Patel in his column has correctly highlighted the situation whereas in Sarawak they vehemently protect their rights but here in Sabah we willingly surrender what is ours to others to please their bosses. Labuan, since 1984 has yet to reach its true potential and is still considered by many as a sleepy town. I don't have the attention to insult the Labuanites but look at Langkawi and compare the island with Labuan, while the former is well known throughout the world the latter remains obscure until today.
Leaders are supposed to be trusted and that is the reason why they are elected to their posts. Sadly, the present crops of leaders seem obsessed with Federal Minister posts, for whom, yes for themselves with the false pretext of improving the dire conditions of the people. While some are asking for more posts, those who already are in the cabinet are doing their best to defend their boss in the name of collective responsibility but is it the true reason. Maybe but once again look at what they have achieved so far, not so meaningful after all. While many of us struggle to meet our ends, they live in a castle they called house. How many of them are living and owning humble houses instead of palatial houses? NONE, my fellow Sabahans. How many of them are living like Nik Aziz for instance? NONE! Instead they live comfortably in houses which can accommodate hundreds.
I am saying that it is wrong to have money and indeed to certain extent they deserve what they have but the people surrounding them need their help more. Another question worth asking, will the abolishment of JPPS and the increase of the oil royalty guarantee that our sufferings will be over? Will we reach our pinnacle again? Will poverty and unemployment be things of the past? I seriously doubt it since many of them are busy of asking for more posts in the Federal cabinet instead of focusing more on the plights of the people at large. I doubt that if they get their wishes the people in Sabah will share the fruits of their success, only for selected few maybe.
Once again I'm not saying this out of spite but we can see abundant proofs everywhere. Our roads and public transports for instance are equivalent to Kuala Lumpur in the 60s or 70s. In fact Datuk Masidi Manjun himself once admitted that many of our rights provided under the Federal Constitution have been gradually eroded due to irresponsible acts of our own leaders. If some think that I've something to gain by this then I beg to differ since one of our leaders himself openly admitted that we are suffering because of our leaders own undoing.
The implications of the former Pulau Batu Putih is indeed scary and we need to remember that this is our only land and if something happened to this land we have nowhere to go. The Vice President of JUST when talking about the 60th anniversary of the formation of Israel succinctly said the lackadaisical attitude of local Palestinian leaders of ignoring the influx of Jews immigrants contributed towards the recent Palestinians sufferings. Any right thinking Malaysians in Sabah certainly will not want the same thing to happen here.
Being colonised is certainly a very painful experience. How a brief reply from even a petty officer has severely caused irreparable damage to a country years later. This episode also based on what have been observed by ICJ shown lackadaisical attitude of the locals although they realised that something was not right. Such attitude today caused us the tiny but significant rock island near Johor.
Living in a nation like ours which has for years are crowded with foreigners should served as a wake up call for the power of the day to immediately look into solutions for this headache. Taking for granted the severity of such problem will certainly cause even severe consequences from the Pedra Branca episode.
Sadly, instead of discussing and revealing the dire consequences of the decision, once again the private TV station instead keep on harping on the UMNO issue as if the losing of Pedra Branca is of no significance. Maybe they don't want to create panic among us but we need to know the truth although it may not be pleasant so that everyone can be prepared and most importantly to renew our waning determination to safeguard this country of ours from being colonised by those foreigners.
Issue of illegal as well as legal immigrants who act as if this beloved country of ours is their own should not be brushed aside as a non issue. This issue is very real and concerns every Malaysian and I mean genuine Malaysian not those who called themselves to be Malaysians but seem to champion the struggles of those foreigners or other countries.
Sadly, some instead of championing the rights of the people these opportunists are bent to champion their personal well being like pressuring the Federal Government of allocating or appointing more Sabahans to Federal Cabinet as if by doing so the rights of Sabahans are automatically protected. We have seen that some if not all Sabahans who have or had been in the Federal cabinet fail miserably to rise to the occasions - looking after the deteriorating rights, struggles and needs of the Sabahans.
Our friends in Sarawak seem content to what they have since their leaders know how to use their so called minor position in the Federal cabinet to their advantages. Until today Sarawak is considered as one of the most developed state in Malaysia despite having not so many ministers. Even though, there are some disgruntled voices critical of the present administration in Sarawak but in terms of safeguarding their rights and championing as well as defending the rights of Sarawak, they seem to agree that the leaders have done well compared to Sabah, once considered to be more prosperous than other states in Malaysia.
Giving more posts to those so called representatives of the people will not solve and free of us from so many problems beleaguering Sabah instead I truly believe that the situation will become even worse since the powers are in their hands. Can someone present tangible facts that those who have or had been in the Federal cabinet for so long contributed towards the well being of the people here in Sabah? How long they have been in the Federal cabinet and how much they have effectively contributed and served our interest? Undeniably they have brought some development but it is very limited and not widespread. Have they argued for more Federal posts for Sabahans at least in Sabah? The university which bears our name since its inception is yet to see a true Sabahan leading it, Sarawak in their silence for instance has produced an Education Director General in Datuk Matnor Daim or Datuk Idris Jala, a humble man from Lawas who is now heading the national carrier. How about Sabah? Well, we have Tan Sri Gani as the AG but looking back at our history being a major component of Malaysia for 45 years, does the number commensurate with each other? The answer is a big NO!
Datuk Fauzi Patel in his column has correctly highlighted the situation whereas in Sarawak they vehemently protect their rights but here in Sabah we willingly surrender what is ours to others to please their bosses. Labuan, since 1984 has yet to reach its true potential and is still considered by many as a sleepy town. I don't have the attention to insult the Labuanites but look at Langkawi and compare the island with Labuan, while the former is well known throughout the world the latter remains obscure until today.
Leaders are supposed to be trusted and that is the reason why they are elected to their posts. Sadly, the present crops of leaders seem obsessed with Federal Minister posts, for whom, yes for themselves with the false pretext of improving the dire conditions of the people. While some are asking for more posts, those who already are in the cabinet are doing their best to defend their boss in the name of collective responsibility but is it the true reason. Maybe but once again look at what they have achieved so far, not so meaningful after all. While many of us struggle to meet our ends, they live in a castle they called house. How many of them are living and owning humble houses instead of palatial houses? NONE, my fellow Sabahans. How many of them are living like Nik Aziz for instance? NONE! Instead they live comfortably in houses which can accommodate hundreds.
I am saying that it is wrong to have money and indeed to certain extent they deserve what they have but the people surrounding them need their help more. Another question worth asking, will the abolishment of JPPS and the increase of the oil royalty guarantee that our sufferings will be over? Will we reach our pinnacle again? Will poverty and unemployment be things of the past? I seriously doubt it since many of them are busy of asking for more posts in the Federal cabinet instead of focusing more on the plights of the people at large. I doubt that if they get their wishes the people in Sabah will share the fruits of their success, only for selected few maybe.
Once again I'm not saying this out of spite but we can see abundant proofs everywhere. Our roads and public transports for instance are equivalent to Kuala Lumpur in the 60s or 70s. In fact Datuk Masidi Manjun himself once admitted that many of our rights provided under the Federal Constitution have been gradually eroded due to irresponsible acts of our own leaders. If some think that I've something to gain by this then I beg to differ since one of our leaders himself openly admitted that we are suffering because of our leaders own undoing.
The implications of the former Pulau Batu Putih is indeed scary and we need to remember that this is our only land and if something happened to this land we have nowhere to go. The Vice President of JUST when talking about the 60th anniversary of the formation of Israel succinctly said the lackadaisical attitude of local Palestinian leaders of ignoring the influx of Jews immigrants contributed towards the recent Palestinians sufferings. Any right thinking Malaysians in Sabah certainly will not want the same thing to happen here.
As a final note, with power comes responsibility and with responsibility comes obligation.
1 comment:
My dear fellow Sabahan,
Thanks for the well-written article. And as a Sabahan, my heart aches whenever I think that most of the "grand monuments" dotting Malaysia, ranging from Sepang F1 circuit, Putrajaya, KLCC etc etc are all built with Sabah's Petroleum money.
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