Mositun slams Bosi's 'nonsensical theory'

By Queville To

KOTA KINABALU: With its credibility at stake, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is working overtime to try and dispel the notion that it has abandoned natives of mixed parentage.

Said PBS information chief, Johnny Mositun: "We regard Sino-natives as having the same rights as pure-blooded natives of Sabah. This is another nonsensical theory hatched by the DAP to instigate inter-communal suspicion and enmity”.

Mositun, who is the deputy State Legislative Assembly Speaker, dismissed a suggestion by the Sabah DAP secretary Dr Edwin Bosi that PBS was obstructing efforts to lift the freeze on issuance of native certificates for those born of mixed parentage.

"PBS has never stooped so low as to exploit the Sino-natives,” Mositun said.

“Bosi’s remarks are outright lies and are his own concoctions. He is insulting the intelligence and capabilities of Sabah’s Sino-natives,” he added.

PBS leaders have found themselves handling a political “hot potato” over the recently formed Sabah Sino-Native Association (SSNA).

Until recently, Sino-natives saw themselves linked to the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) and its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also the PBS president and the Huguan Siou (paramount leader of the community).

However, the state government's decision to revoke Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong's “native” status has ballooned into a major embarrassment for PBS and Pairin. (Wong says he is a Sino-native.)

To mitigate a possible fallout within the community over the issue, SSNA was formed with another Sino-native, PBS member Johnny Goh, as its head.

Bosi had questioned the rationale of the move.

“I am amused, but I really don’t know what he is hinting at," Mositun said of Bosi's allegations that PBS was politicising the issue.

"What secrets, what conspiracy? I don’t know. It’s easy to make a lot of noise and promises, but delivering is another matter.

"There are legal and constitutional channels to pursue the issue of Wong’s native status and also the question of getting the freeze on issuance of native certificates lifted.

"This is what Bosi and DAP should seriously consider and act on if they are sincere about resolving these matters,” Mositun said. - FMT