‘When conditions become unbearable we must act’

Jeffrey Kitingan says if situation in Malaysia doesn't change, secession could happen.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan who has come under fire for suggesting that the Court of Appeal’s Allah ruling leaves a probability of Sabah and Sarawak seceding from federal peninsula, said he was merely expressing the views of the majority.

“I am merely voicing out how the majority of Sabahans and Sarawakians are feeling in response to what the federal government is doing.

“We are being pushed to the edge.. we must respond.. it’s our right.

“When conditions become unbearable for our people then we must act. The principle of self determination provides many avenues and access to the UN (United Nations).

“An there is also the issue of non-compliance of the Malaysian Agreement 1963,” said Kitingan who is State Reform Party (Star) Sabah chapter chief.

Kitingan was responding to several Umno Barisan Nasional leaders who had chastised him for suggesting a “pullout” following the Court of Appeal ruling to overrule a High Court decision allowing Catholic publication The Herald to use the term ‘Allah’ in its Bahasa Malaysia version.

Rubbishing Kitingan’s suggestion, Umno Supreme Council member Saifuddin Abdullah today said the court ruling was specific to the publication and should be seen in that context.

He said the court decision was not a blanket ruling against other non-Muslims.

Saifuddin had also suggested that the authorities study Kitingan’s statement which he claimed was seditious, provocative and could create chaos in the country.

“The word pull out of Malaysia is a very heavy word to use and its is illogical. You have to make a statement in a professional manner and not use your emotions to comment,” he said.

Responding to Saifuddin, Kitingan said: “(Well) if situation in Malaysia doesn’t change, especially how the Malaya-controlled federal government treats Sabah and Sarawak, this could happen.”

Kitingan went on to point out that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 was specific and the founding fathers of Sabah and Sarawak were promised religious freedom.

“If not for these promises, there is no Malaysia today,” he said adding that his comments were not knee jerk reactions to the court ruling.