Police prevent hundreds from nearing Batu Sumpah

Jeffrey Kitingan says this breaks third pledge carved on monument, adding to three, the number of pledges broken.

KENINGAU: The Sabah and Federal Governments have no right to prevent the people, especially those from the interior, from visiting the Oath Stone (Batu Sumpah) on Malaysia Day.

“Batu Sumpah was not built by the two governments and neither did they contribute towards the cost of building it,” said Bingkor Assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan after he was denied entry to the site where the monument was erected.

The government, he stressed, had no right to seize control of Batu Sumpah from the people.

Jeffrey was expressing his disappointment after the police in Black Marias turned up in full force and prevented several hundred people from approaching Batu Sumpah. They were also not allowed to gather outside the fencing and carry out any ceremonies or conduct prayers.

The District Office had the site closed off and locked to prevent any entry by members of the public. The official excuse was that the focus of the Malaysia Day joy would be in Kota Kinabalu.

“These actions smack of a blatant disregard for the pledges carved on Batu Sumpah,” said Jeffrey who is also Star Sabah chief. “Sabah does not belong to the Federal Government or the Barisan Nasional.”

He alleged that the District Office was instructed to close off the Batu Sumpah site to prevent public attention to the fact that the three pledges had not been observed by the Sabah and federal governments viz. no religion in Sabah; that land was a Sabah government matter; and that the government must respect and honour the culture, customs and traditions of the Orang Asal.

Jeffrey pointed out that by not allowing the public to gather at Batu Sumpah, it was already again breaking the third pledge carved on the monument after being in non-compliance of the first two pledges.

“Going back on the pledges meant that the trust between the people in the interior in particular and the federal government has been broken,” said Jeffrey. “Trust is the basis of the relationship.”