Jeffrey slams Zahid’s attack on Sabah, Sarawak slogans

Veteran Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan says 'Sabahans for Sabah', 'Sarawakians for Sarawak' reflect voice of the people and should not threatened.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan has criticised the suggestion that using slogans such as “Sabah for Sabahans” and “Sarawak for Sarawakians” could now be deemed an offence.

He was referring to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday that such slogans was “against the Federal Constitution”.

The Umno number two had said such actions could lead to anarchy and national instability.

“The action of some who seditiously incite the people with the slogans ‘Sabah for Sabah’ and ‘Sarawak for Sarawak’ is against the spirit of the Federal Constitution,” Zahid had said during the opening of the youth, women and Puteri Umno wings assemblies at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Questioning the assertion that such slogans were an incitement to hatred, Jeffrey said it was also not right to threaten people with arrest and imprisonment merely for using the slogans.

“Zahid said nobody is above the law. Yes, including those who hold the law in their hands.

“Therefore, threatening Sabahans and Sarawakians for saying ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ or ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ is, to me, abuse of authority and the law and has no place in a democratic country like Malaysia,” Jeffrey said.

Furthermore, Jeffrey asked if such slogans could not be used, would it also extend to similar slogans, like “Malaysia for Malaysians”.

“Is the government so desperate for survival? Are they preparing for a crackdown and martial law?” he asked.

‘Sabah a country’

Jeffrey, who himself was detained for more than two years under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1990, also questioned how Zahid could blame the Sabahans for saying the slogan when the people feel marginalised, suppressed and deprived of their rights.

He said Sabah is a “country” that is supposed to be independent but found itself politically and financially controlled by the federal government.

“Sabah is a ‘country’ rich in oil and gas but only gets 5% of its wealth. A country with immigration powers but infested and overwhelmed by illegal immigrants who possess Malaysian MyKads and can elect the government.

“It is a ‘country’ whose own natives are chased out of their homes and traditional domains by the powers that be.

“Would Zahid continue to blame Sabahans for their sentiment? Come on Zahid. Be rational. Feel the pulse of the Bornean societies,” Jeffrey said.

Meanwhile, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee denounced Zahid as being out of touch with the issues on the ground.

“He is out of date, out of touch and out of ideas. Sabahans are not afraid of such threats which only make us more determined to fight on,” Yong said.

On Tuesday, Zahid said those who incite the people of Sabah and Sarawak are playing with fire as such actions could lead to anarchy and national instability.

He also said the slogans Sabah for Sabahans and Sarawak for Sarawakians are against the spirit of the Federal Constitution and those advocating the slogans are thus inciting anger which is a very serious crime and can be severely punished. - FMT