Further Discussion On The Question Of Autonomy For Sarawak And Sabah

Over this question of autonomy for Sarawak and / or Sabah   I also have some other points.

Say Sarawak (and / or) Sabah seek more autonomy, independence etc. 

Then does this mean that Sarawak and Sabah will reimburse all the "West Malaysians" (the Semenanjung people lah) who have worked in Sarawak and Sabah and contributed so much to the development and the advancement of the two states for the past 53 years? 

Especially the Civil Servants, the teachers, doctors, the soldiers, the Navy and Airforce boys, the Policemen who have all served in Sarawak for the past 53 years since 1963?

For almost all of them they were performing their duty as Malaysians.  

The 20 Point Agreements and such were the farthest things on their minds when teachers from the Peninsula travelled by boat for days to teach in schools in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak. 

In the 1980s my college mate, an engineer, and his colleagues had to face off with Suluks while building roads in Lahad Datu.  The Suluks practically controlled the place.  They were the law.  But my friend and his colleagues built roads in Sabah.

During the Indonesian Confrontation our boys from the Peninsula lost their lives protecting the Sarawak frontiers from the Indonesians.    And after that our soldiers from the Peninsula also died protecting Sarawak from the Partai Komunis Kalimantan Utara and other communist terrorist groups.  They died as Malaysians fighting for our country.  More recently our boys died fighting off the Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu. 

Sarawakians have also served admirably in the Sarawak Rangers and later the Royal Rangers  Regiment.  Our national war hero was Temenggong Datuk Kanang anak Langkau, awarded the Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, Panglima Gagah Berani and other awards. He fought in the Indonesian Confrontation and against the Communist Terrorists.  Datuk Kanang too possibly never thought about the 20 Points Agreement when he charged through the jungles with his guns blazing and his parang (he took off one live head of a CT with his parang). They were all serving the nation - our country.

Tens of thousands of teachers from the Peninsula have served with commitment educating the young generations in Sarawak and Sabah. They have edcated generations of Sabahans and Sarawakians. 

Doctors and nurses as well. My son just spent two years as a doctor in Sabah.  It was away from home, in a distant part of the country at considerable cost (of time, commitment, money, being away from family etc).  We travelled to Sabah to visit him and encourage my son in his duties.  It was not a chore. It just cost some money and time but this is our country. It is our people.

All of our people from the Peninsula have served well in Sabah and Sarawak as part of their duty as Malaysians.  I dont think they thought too much about the 20 Point agreement or about politics.  My son learnt some Dusun and also some Suluk.

Sabahans and Sarawakians  can come over and work in the Peninsula at any time. They can buy land and property here on the Peninsula without any restrictions.  

On the other hand people from the Peninsula need to fill forms when they arrive at the airport in Sarawak and Sabah. Not too long ago you needed to show your Malaysian passport.  

I landed in Bintulu and it was the first time my passport was stamped with 'Permitted to enter Malaysia ..."  I was shocked. This was the 20 Point Agreement? 

I went to Bintulu to close a billion Ringgit loan to build Petronas' MLNG 2 plant which has been a major revenue earner for Sarawak. Money from all the savings accounts, fixed deposits in the banks and money markets in Kuala Lumpur and the Peninsula.  We were mobilising our funds to develop our country - Malaysia. 

If you were a professional (like a lawyer, an accountant or an architect) from the Peninsula it was difficult for you to set up shop in Sabah and Sarawak.Their professional associations also place restrictions on people from the Peninsula.  Except for doctors who are in short supply in the interior.  There are no restrictions against professionals from Sabah and Sarawak practising their trade on the Peninsula.

I suppose Sarawakians and Sabahans do have their rights of self determination. 

If the people of Sabah and Sarawak really wish to break away and become autonomous,  independent etc that maybe their right to demand so. 

But you cannot say that all the tens if not hundreds of thousands of Malaysians from the Peninsula who have served in Sabah and Sarawak for 53 years have short changed the people there. That will not be a fair thing to say at all. It will be highly inaccurate.  

My own son, and about 20 years earlier his uncle also a doctor, plus so many others who I have known personally, have served admirably in Sabah and Sarawak, serving the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

It has been a very long marriage between the Peninsula, Sarawak and Sabah. 53 years and still strong. Arising from this marriage generations of children and grandchildren have grown up to become successful and useful citizens.  

It is only the politicians who are unhappy because they have not stolen enough money from the people and from each other.  It is the politicians who are dividing the people.

I want to suggest an easier option.  Why not change the politicians instead of changing the country? Isnt that a better thing to do?