Sabah still under Putrajaya’s thumb, says opposition man

STAR vice-president Feddrin Tuliang says Warisan's partner Pakatan Harapan is no different from Barisan Nasional.

STAR vice-president Feddrin Tuliang says no change in state cabinet only new names.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah has been accused by the opposition Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) of being a Putrajaya tool to maintain Peninsula control over the state.

STAR vice-president Feddrin Tuliang questioned the Warisan-led state government’s sincerity about taking up Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

He said the state cabinet list showed that no new ministries had been created, only a change of names, and the portfolios showed a lack of decentralisation of functions from Putrajaya, although this had been a Warisan campaign promise.

When naming his state cabinet last month, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal had created four new portfolios: trade and industry ministry; health and people’s wellbeing; education and innovation; and law and native affairs.

A list made public recently on each ministry’s responsibilities showed Sabah state rights mentioned only under the law and native affairs ministry.

“There is no such thing as decentralisation of functions from Putrajaya as Warisan president Shafie Apdal had promised during his campaigns. What I see is just name change for state functions,” Tuliang told FMT.

“This proves our suspicion that Warisan has never been sincere in championing Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement. Their close association with Malaya-based parties will influence their decision on anything to do with Sabah.”

Many Sabahans continue to use the old name Malaya when referring to West Malaysia.

Parti Warisan is allied with Pakatan Harapan in the state assembly as well as in Parliament. Tuliang said Pakatan Harapan was no different from Barisan Nasional.

He said Warisan was being used by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to achieve Putrajaya’s agenda of continuing to colonise Sabah by using Sabahans who would kowtow to Putrajaya.

“What change are they talking about? The reality is, Malaya’s mission of colonising Sabah has continued. It does not get any better for Sabah. In fact, it gets worse,” he said.

He accused Shafie of either not knowing how to take up Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement or not having any intention of doing so. -FMT