Ramasamy jibes Loke for deserting “Malaysian Malaysia” fight; praises Ewon’s honesty to pull UPKO out of PH

 

DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook should be the last person to question the sincerity of UPKO president Ewon Benedick to resign from his Cabinet position recently.

The Penampang MP resigned as the entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister and pulled his party out of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition because he was unhappy with the federal government for not respecting the recent Kota Kinabalu High Court decision that affirmed Sabah’s 40% entitlement of the federal revenue.

In a matter of days, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) might not appeal the court decision but only the reasoning behind the decision.

Such a statement from Anwar merely raised further doubts about the sincerity and honesty of the federal government.

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‘No right to question Ewon’s motive’

For Ewon, the statements from Anwar and the AGC merely confirmed his worst suspicions that the federal government was less than sincere about implementing the decision.

Henceforth, Loke who has given up the fight for Malaysian Malaysia should be the last person questioning Ewon motive in resigning.

Contrary to Loke’s mischievous remark, Ewon should be praised for the bold decision to resign. This shows that Sabah politicians are more committed in fighting for the rights of Sabah rather than the peninsular politicians from DAP or PKR.

If DAP has given up the fight for better Malaysia especially in addressing the rights of the Chinese and Indians, then leaders like Loke have forfeited the right to question politicians who are fighting for the rights of the people.

Instead of admiring Ewon for his honesty and bravery, Loke seems more prone to take the side of Anwar as though the latter is serious about addressing the constitutional issues of Sabah.

Loke thinks that Ewon should have raised the matter of Sabah’s financial entitlement in the Cabinet rather than quitting the government.

Unfit to meddle in Sabah’s affairs

I would like to ask Loke whether he and other DAP leaders fought for the rights of the Chinese and Indians in the country in the Cabinet meetings. I understand that he is more of civil servant in the Cabinet rather than a politician mandated by the voters.

DAP is just a multi-racial party for the outside world but it is never one in practice. The once ferocious DAP leaders have given up the sacrosanct concept of Malaysian Malaysia as soon power, positions and perks have clouded their eyes.

If DAP respects the rights of Sabahans, it should extricate itself from Sabah. It cannot even fight for the non-Malays in the Peninsula let alone spread its wings to Sabah.

Loke should admit the fact that DAP has been transformed into MCA 2.0. Maybe Loke should explain this dismal transformation of DAP.

It is indeed ironic that DAP that sought to differentiate itself from the MCA has come to resemble the party that once it despised.

I certainly think that it took courage and honesty for Ewon to resign from the Madani government.

DAP leaders like Loke who lacks elementary guts in fighting for the rights of Malaysian should not throw the spanner in the efforts of Sabahans to chart a progressive cause for the region. 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.