Who are we in Malaysia? A mundane question yet possesses a magnet like attraction to Malaysians living in Sabah. For 45 long years many if not all Malaysians in Sabah feel that they are being marginalised though they are equal partner with other constituent of Malaysia particularly those Peninsular states. There you have it, we are at par with our Peninsular brethren no more no less yet we strongly feel that we are being sidelined in not one but all matters of life.
Though we are of equal standing but in terms of the economic cake we are placed at the back. The evidences are aplenty; we just need to open our eyes. Public transportation for instance is equal those Kuala Lumpur's 70's or 80's. Only recently, we have our own flyovers after a 45 years wait! Although we have abundant natural resources and blessed with strategic location but we are still behind of the rest. While islands in the Peninsular are reaping the benefit from the booming tourism industry ours are still lagging behind with not so much and even non existent progress. Banggi island for instance has been there as long as we can remember and its picturesque look is at par with other islands but why we can still see dilapidated huts built on stilts covered by the ever so obvious 'mighty' BN flags?
Politically speaking, once we have Sabahan as Defence Minister in the late Tun Mustapha but today we have only negligible appearance in the Federal cabinet and even that it is achieved after so much haggling and sulking. Now, we boast with our own Vice Chancellor but our fellow Kelantanese have long enjoyed such privileges. Why are we being treated in such way by our own 'life' partner?
I humbly submitted that it is our or to be exact our so called leaders doings or rather undoing. Once during Berjaya's era, we are considered and looked up as one if not the most developed state in Malaysia way ahead of Sarawak which nowadays have become the talk of town a point of reference. During that time, we have everything or we can get whatever we want. Unfortunately, we fail miserably to learn from history as we never bother to look back well, not until it is too late. We never prepared for rainy days as we are swayed by what we have. We never really prepared for the uncertain future since we are in the comfortable zone and we never foresee the storm ahead. Although, we are rich in natural resources but rampant mismanagement and abuse of power are already depleting our wealth. We are overjoyed to see mountains of riches but we never realised that they are gradually crumbling to earth. Even if we see it, we prefer to turn the other way since we see the resources are still abundant.
Today, the leaders are panicking since the resources have depleted tremendously at an alarming stage. They start asking for more and then only and only then they look back and start harping on the 20 points but to their horror they themselves are the culprits who are responsible of eroding those safety nets for the apparent reason - their own glory and pleasure. The Kelantanese or the Sarawakians do not to bark like mad dogs since they are truly the learned in history. They build up on what scarce resources they have while at the same time equipped themselves with the necessary tools. While we in Sabah are living in richness they learn to be thrifty and build their wealth from scratch just like our fellow Chinese friends.
Now, while Sabahans are busy asking for more they are basking on their solid foundation while keep themselves reminded of their humble if not humiliating beginning. If only we realised from the very beginning we will never have to humiliate ourselves today. Now, we become the laughing stock as the leaders brazenly yet unashamedly traded their dignity as a bargaining chip to remain in power. Everyone are now looking and waiting for Sabahan MPs to jump ship. Why? Because in 1994 we started the trend with two of our senior politicians crossing to the BN causing the PBS-led government to crumble. It is a sad and gloomy day for Malaysians in Sabah to be looked down because of unruly behaviours of our so-called people's leaders. Now, to survive, we have traded our dignity and thus we are no different from those who traded their flesh for money.We will not be in this humiliating situation if only we learn from history and now even those illegals have no respect to us. Last Sunday, it was reported in the Daily Express of the horrible incident where two DBKK enforcement officers are beaten since they are not the Police! Look at how low we have become and yet many have not realised it.
If we don't buck up and realised our faults then being part of the Philippines is not remote at all. If Saiful Bukhari Azlan dared to swear against the potent Anwar Ibrahim, then we need to be brave to stand up against our opportunist leaders. They need to be reminded that they have the responsibility to look after the well-beings of the people and that they are answerable to the Almighty in the Hereafter.
Do not try to live for ever. You will not succeed. - George Bernard Shaw
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