PKR leader smells a rat in Home Ministry's warning

Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanki Jaafar has warned politicians not to raise the matter of the 20 and 18 Points of the 1963 agreement with which Sabah and Sarawak joined the peninsula to form Malaysia.

Expressing "disgust" over this, PKR deputy secretary-general Darell Leiking said he believes there could be an ulterior motive behind the warning. 

The Penampang MP suspects that there is an attempt to prevent Sabah and Sarawak BN MPs from committing to the call for the review of the 20/18 Points under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

"In my last speech in Parliament (which was actually the motion to debate on the 20/18 Points and Malaysia Agreement 1963), I asked Sabah and Sarawak BN MPs to support the motion to have these points reviewed.

"But it is understandable when they opt to remain silent, since they need to protect their own interests within BN," Leiking said.

However, he added, growing disappointment and anger shown by Sabahans and Sarawakians in the social media as a result of the silence of these BN MPs have forced the BN government to protect them.

"So the veiled threat from the deputy home minister is a perfect way to cover these BN MPs from Sabah and Sarawak from making any comments relating to these safeguards," Leiking said.

He said he would not be surprised if some BN-friendly NGOs suddenly create a ruckus in support of the warning issued by Wan Junaidi.

‘What disharmony is he talking about?'

Refusing to be cowed by the warning, Leiking is adamant on pursuing the matter.

"What 'disharmony' is he (Wan Junaidi, right) talking about? Why give warnings relating to the safeguards that were created in the first place to protect the interests of Sabahans and Sarawakians in Malaysia?" he asked.

The provisions of these safeguards were agreed to by the federal government back then and thereafter were incorporated into the Malaysian Agreement 1963.

"It is ridiculous to stop Malaysians from discussing these safeguards. These are historical facts and have become the beacon for all Malaysians to understand the special positions conferred upon the Sabahans and Sarawakians," he added.

Leiking also asked how the BN government could claim that it is "illegal" for anyone to speak about an agreement that has been agreed to.

"I opine that the moment you put a 'gag' on these safeguards, Sabahans and Sarawakians will be thrown back into the realm of inferiority, in comparison to their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia.

"I am totally disgusted with the way the BN government tries to portray itself as being 'bigger and higher' than these 20/18 Points," he said.

"These safeguards will always be of a higher position and standing than the BN government itself. Why? Because without the 20/18 Points, Malaysia will not exist."

Leiking likened the 20 and 18 Points to the clauses that exists in the partnership agreement of a company.

"In a partnership company, we can't simply say that all is good within the company just because the clauses that are acceptable by all the partners have been incorporated into the partnership agreement.

"There must be specific performances by the respective partners. So, the partners may need to review the agreement from time to time as to whether all of them have fulfilled and performed their obligations and responsibilities," he explained.