DAP: Orang Asal forced to ‘beg’ for contracts

Non-Muslim contractors, including Orang Asal, have to spend a lot of time in Kuala Lumpur to meet up with Federal Ministers to practically beg for contracts.

KOTA KINABALU: The DAP Sabah Orang Asal Consultative Committee agrees that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) power-sharing formula in Sabah, as highlighted by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its Deputy President Chin Su Phin, has been a failure.

“We also see discrimination in the civil service, GLCs, and even the business sector,” said Kepayan assemblyman Edwin Bosi, who heads the Committee. “Non-Muslim contractors in Sabah, including Orang Asal, have to spend a lot of time in Kuala Lumpur to meet up with Federal Ministers and officials to practically beg for contracts.”

“These contractors have complained that although Article 153 of the Federal Constitution covers them, they have to still beg for contracts. They should be able to get contracts without having to resort to begging.”

Edwin was commenting on a statement by Pakatan Pro-BN NGO advising DAP Sabah to put its own affairs in order before meddling in the affairs of BN parties. He noted that Pakatan Pro-BN NGO President Zulkarnain Mahdar has also interfered in BN matters by criticizing LDP and also in DAP Sabah matters by raising the issue of its Chairman Jimmy Wong’s Native Certificate.

“Even the Sabah Government has been silent on Wong’s Native Certificate,” said Edwin. “They are at a loss on this matter and until now there has been no decision on the matter, So, to raise the issue is a waste of time.”

If an NGO is already pro-BN, asked Edwin, how can it attack a BN party like LDP?

“Every time a BN Sabah component party raises an issue on power-sharing, the little Napoleons will come to the defence of the Sabah Government. I would like to remind Pakatan Pro-BN NGO to look at the post of the Sabah Speaker. It seems Umno belabours in the delusion that the post belongs to it. Others, it seems, can only hold the post of Deputy Speaker.”

In the case of GLCs, added Edwin, non-Muslims are left out when it comes to holding directorships or heading the agencies as CEOs and the like. “I advise Pakatan Pro-BN NGO to call a meeting among the secretary-generals of all BN Sabah component parties to address issues affecting the coalition, and in particular, the BN’s power-sharing formula.”

Zulkarnain claimed in a statement that the BN’s power-sharing formula was not only being practised in Sabah but was alive and well. He said that he disagreed with LDP and Chin’s statement that it has been deprived in terms of not getting enough positions in government departments and agencies.

“The BN leadership in Sabah is committed to the principles of power-sharing and was always willing to listen to member’s views and suggestions for the good of the coalition as a whole,” said Zulkarnain. “The fragile pact of DAP, PKR and PAS has yet to be resolved and now the DAP in Sabah wants to interfere in the internal affairs of BN.”