Close federal ties key to Sabah’s progress, says Masidi

GRS sec-gen recounts how Sabah suffered after then chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan fell out with Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1990.

Caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor’s good relationship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has enabled Sabah to obtain nine key demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU:

 Sabah risks losing its development trajectory if the state does not maintain strong ties to Putrajaya, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general Masidi Manjun said, citing history.

He said the state’s progress stalled when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, was in power between 1985 to 1994, as a result of friction that developed with the federal government.

“Many have forgotten the bitter experience of having PBS govern Sabah. When they refused to cooperate with the federal government, Sabah’s development was affected.

“Looking back today, many of the decisions made (by the state government) back then were detrimental (to Sabah),” Masidi said in an exclusive interview with FMT.

PBS was a Barisan Nasional component when it came into power in 1985, but Pairin led the party out of the coalition just before the 1990 general election. The move saw him fall out with then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

PBS rejoined BN in 2002 but left again after the 2018 general election.

“Sabah is still a part of Malaysia,” says GRS sec-gen Masidi Manjun, when explaining why federal-state ties must remain strong.

The Kadazandusun Murut-based party is now a key component of GRS.

Masidi said the cold federal-state ties that followed PBS’s initial withdrawal from BN resulted in reduced financial support for the East Malaysian state.

“We don’t want that to repeat. That experience should serve as a lesson to us: despite our political differences, Sabah is still a part of Malaysia,” said the five-term Karanaan assemblyman.

The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah deputy president said the cordial relationship established by current chief minister Hajiji Noor had brought multiple benefits to Sabahans, including recognition of state-based parties’ ability to manage Sabah.

“The core of the state administration is local parties, but cooperation with the federal government remains strong and close,” he said.

Masidi expressed confidence that as long as federal-state ties remain strong, Sabah’s development will continue to gain momentum while avoiding the missteps of past administrations.

Last month, GRS chairman Hajiji reaffirmed the coalition’s partnership with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming state polls, citing his government’s strong ties with the federal administration led by prime minister and PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim.

Hajiji said this good relationship had enabled Sabah to obtain nine key demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Last Sunday, Anwar promised that Putrajaya would honour Sabah’s entitlement to 40% of the revenue derived from the state. - FMT