Sabah legislators united on Full Autonomy

Legislators want the matter to be brought to the Sabah Assembly and debated in line with the people’s aspirations.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah legislators are united on the return of Full Autonomy to their homeland in line with Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s version of his initial discussions with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the matter.

Longtime Borneo rights activist Jeffrey Kitingan thinks that Najib’s proposed transfer of management of Federal Departments in Sabah and Sarawak, already being duplicated by state departments, was not the return of Full Autonomy.

Api Api assemblywoman Christina Liew Chin Jin Hadhikusumo wants Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman to allow both sides of the political divide to table motions to debate the devolution of powers. “This can be done in November when the Sabah Assembly meets.”

“We can’t conduct this behind closed doors as it may not be what the people want.”

Liew, who is also PKR Sabah Deputy Chief, indicated that her motion would also touch on the re-issuance of ICs to weed out illegals with genuine ICs and the abolishment of the National Cabotage Policy (NCP), among others.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Secretary-General Johnny Mositun said that his party would not compromise on the return of Full Autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak. He noted that Adenan had explained Full Autonomy as the status that the two Borneo nations had before 1963. Under this concept, Putrajaya would confine itself to defence, internal security and foreign affairs only in the two Borneo states.

“The party is happy with the Prime Minister’s pledge to devolve some Federal powers to Sabah and Sarawak but maintains its position that Full Autonomy, as agreed upon when Malaysia was formed in 1963, must be returned,” said Mositun. “Make no mistake. Full Autonomy is our constitutional and legal right. “

He added that as PBS was a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in Kota Kinabalu and Putrajaya, it will continue to pursue the return of full autonomy as an objective through internal mechanisms. “We don’t want to politicise the issue as it may result in confrontation and open challenges.”

“We are not looking for political mileage from the issue.”

Jeffrey, in resuming the debate, cautioned that transfer of the management of Federal Departments in Sabah cannot be described as the return of Full Autonomy. “It’s merely delegation of Federal Government powers to the Governments of Sabah and Sarawak,” said Jeffrey who is Bingkor assemblyman and Star Sabah Chief. “The Full Autonomy is reflected in the Federal and respective state constitutions as well as the allocation of legislative powers under the Federal and State Concurrent List.”

Jeffrey charged that there appears to be a game of hide and seek being staged by the Sabah and Federal Governments on the issue although Adenan has made clear what the return of Full Autonomy means. “Adenan’s announcement that the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) issued by Chinese schools is equivalent to the SPM at the Federal level is an example of autonomy in education being exercised by the state.”

Jeffrey lamented that Najib’s idea of the return of Full Autonomy was couched in vague terms about the devolution of Federal powers while the Sabah Government explained it as management and administration of Federal projects in the state to ensure that they are better and more efficiently managed.

Like Liew, Jeffrey wants the return of Full Autonomy to be brought to the Sabah Assembly and debated. “Where necessary, amendments of the law and the Federal Constitution should also be passed and adopted,” he said in disagreeing with Mositun that the issue was best discussed through internal channels within the BN. “Project management with ultimate power and authority retained by Putrajaya is not Full Autonomy.”

Jeffrey conceded that the Federal Government can still exercise oversight in Sabah and Sarawak when it comes to financial matters to ensure that there’s no abuse of power, conflict of interest and corruption. “There must be transparency, public accountability and good governance.”

Najib, in various statements, had explained that the Federal Government feels that there’s a need to cut down on duplication and wastage in Sabah and Sarawak. “We will hand over the control of some Federal Departments in Sabah and Sarawak to locals or to the respective state governments.”

“We will let them do what they can do. It’s not necessary for the Federal Government to do everything in Sabah and Sarawak.”