DAP ‘silent’ on Harris dare on Batu Sumpah

Opposition misleading the people with independence for Sabah and Sarawak campaign.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah chapter of the peninsula-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) has so far remained “silent”, albeit publicly, on a dare by former Chief Minister Harris Salleh, 84, to a public debate on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the 20 Points (20P), Batu Sumpah and the independence of Sabah and Sarawak.

In the dare, issued three days ago, Harris stressed that he wanted to help “clear once and for all the status of MA63, 20P and Batu Sumpah”.

Harris reiterated that it was high time that Opposition leaders, especially the DAP, were challenged on these issues. He also hoped that the DAP would respond to his public dare and accept his challenge and discuss the terms and conditions for the debate.

Delving into the salient points of his arguments for the debate, Harris said he was of the opinion that MA63 and 20P were no longer “legally binding” on the grounds that most, if not all, of their provisions had been incorporated in the Federal Constitution.

“The Batu Sumpah remained as a symbolic historical fact,” said Harris referring to the Oath Stone in Keningau.

Batu Sumpah was being replicated all over Sabah by the DAP in an ongoing campaign to draw attention to the three pledges inscribed therein and an accompanied guarantee by the Malaysian Government to the Orang Asal to ensure their loyalty to Malaysia.

“Nevertheless, it seems that the Federal Government is entertaining these issues as valid,” he lamented. “Therefore, the attitude of the Federal Government on these issues is sending favourable signals to the Opposition leaders.”

“The Federal Government should come straight to the point and tell everyone that we should no longer be wasting time talking about MA63 and the 20P in the media and the coffee shops.”

“Malaysia, stressed Harris, is a parliamentary democracy where all issues of national interest should be brought up in Parliament.

Harris also felt that the Opposition was misleading the people on the independence of Sabah and Sarawak. “The people are being hoodwinked,” he added. “The statements made by the Opposition leaders are not only misleading but wrong.”

The fact remains, according to Harris, that Sabah and Sarawak can only become independent by an amendment to the Federal Constitution by Parliament. “This requires a two-thirds majority,” he said. “Therefore, those in Sabah and Sarawak who want independence for these two nations must first obtain a two-thirds majority in Parliament.”

He cited Singapore, which exited the Federation in 1965, as a case in point.

Harris reiterated that the ongoing campaign in Sabah and Sarawak for independence, allegedly masterminded by the Opposition, “misleads everyone and creates chaos and unease among the people at large”.

The last time Harris had a public debate, was with Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) President Yong Teck Lee, when it degenerated into a monologue by the former Chief Minister as the latter found himself on the receiving end.

Yong had difficulties getting in a word as the debate veered off track into suggestions that he should focus on securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament to set up a banana republic where he (Yong) could do as he pleased.