THREE PMS – PLAUSIBLE OR CUCKOO?

By : LAWRENCE LEONG

BY NOW, it should be common knowledge, that Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak is a unionisation of three Nation States, as equal partners for the good and benefit for all her citizens.

All Malaysians interested in domestic History may also recall that, Singapore separated from Malaysia officially on 9 August 1965. This was made possible, after the TUNKU made an appeal publicly for support from Sabah and Sarawak MPs. ‘Melayu Muda Lupa’ is now a common cliché’, made famous by the ex PM, Tun Dr Mahathir.

Is it appropriate to add another one, ‘Malaya Muda Lupa’? Would it be wrong for East Malaysians to ask,’ what have we ever done to you that like a game of English soccer; we have been relegated to third division, through no fault of the Rakyat?

Sabahans have now come to resent this feeling as being under a New Colonial Master, using MA63 as a point of reference. In 1965, during the 1145th Council meeting in the United Nation, the late Tun Dr. Ismail, in his speech, in reply to the Indonesians said, quote:-

"The people of Malaysia do not need outsiders to champion their struggle against colonisation, because we ourselves rejected colonisation from our land, because the formation of Malaysia is a major act of decolonisation." End quote pg. 150, The Reluctant Politician.

As ‘equal ‘partners, is having three Prime ministers a far-fetched proposal? How can one country have three PMs? Well, how can we claim that we are equal partners, when we have only one PM? This article does not argue that the three PMs have the same job descriptions.

It is to justify equal partnerships. Malaysians, especially Sabahans, do not have the habit of walking out of their comfort zones. We have been conditioned to conform to the norm, of what is acceptable. Even corruption is now a culture, if you want to ‘jump the queue’ or get things done your way, duit kopi ‘O’, is the way to go.

Bearing in mind our reluctance to think outside the square, Spain makes a good example of a democratic government, with a parliamentary system under a Monarchy. Spain is made up of 19 regions, i.e. 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities.

The King is the Head of State, under him, the President of the Government of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, in Spanish, Presidente Del Gobiemo de Espana and his cabinet. Catalonia, one of the regions is headed by President Atur Mas. Aragon, another region, is headed by President Luisa Fernanda Rudi. Castile and Leon region, headed by Juan Vicente Herrera etc. For further informations, google Spain.