‘RCI in Sabah is a gimmick’

A royal commission of inquiry for Sabah is Umno 'political gimmick' that comes late, says an avid political observer.

KOTA KINABALU: De facto law minister Nazri Aziz has revealed that Sabah will have its royal commission of inquiry (RCI) and that “the government had already begun the process of preparing the terms of reference for the RCI”.

But Nazri’s response to Barisan Nasional Senator Paul Kong Sing Chu’s question asking for an update on the RCI situation, during the Senate sitting yesterday, has only served to anger Sabahans further.

“He’s (Nazri) just playing to the gallery. Those Umno fellows don’t really want an RCI.

“It”s their fixed deposit that they are talking about. This is just another political gimmick..all talk no walk,” said a seasoned political observer here.

One Umno insider here also questioned why no earlier statements were issued about the fact that the government was already looking into preparing terms of reference for the RCI.

“How come no news before? Why is Nazri talking, not PM? Sabah not important?” said the SMS text revert.

The RCI for Sabah is not big news here now. The excitement has fizzled.

It was much anticipated here on Feb 9, the day after the cabinet gave its ‘nod’ to the setting up of the commission to look into the exponential population growth among the legalised illegals immigrants in Sabah.

Federal minister VK Liew’s office had leaked the cabinet decision to the media and Sabahans were waiting with bated breath for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to officially announce RCI for Sabah.

But that never came.

‘No respect’

Najib and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin have since come to Sabah no less than on twice and once respectively.

Each visit they snubbed Sabahans leaving their native-majority coalition allies here floundering in the face of rising criticism of how they have become Umno’s puppets.

During a visit to Sipitang early last month, Najib left Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan who heads Parti Bersatu Sabah, red-faced and embarassed ‘and without apology’ when he cancelled at the last minute a press conference where he was expected to announce Sabah’s RCI. With Pairin were other BN leaders.

Najib gave no reasons but the sudden U-turn was reportedly linked to a secret meeting with Umno leaders the night before during which Najib was educated on BN’s fixed deposit – the loyal legalised illegal immigrants – who had voted BN in every election.

Sabah’s legalised immigrant population is now in excess of 1.2 million and reports of ‘free MyKads’ being dished out overt and covertly in the infamous eastcoast ‘gateways’ in Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu are worrying everyone here except Umno in Kuala Lumpur.

Even Sabah Umno chairman Musa Aman has thrown his support for the RCI.