Reverse psychology by a true Malaysian federalist

 

From Wilfred Madius Tangau

I am both amused and concerned to learn that political scientist Wong Chin Huat has been accused of stirring up separatist sentiment by Khaled Nordin, an Umno vice-president and former Johor menteri besar.

Wong is the last person to qualify as a Sabah or Sarawak separatist.

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He does not even support the proposal to give 35% parliamentary seats.

Instead, he backs the growing call by me and others that Sabah and Sarawak should first and foremost be given autonomous power on education and health, and a one-third veto power for Sabah and Sarawak in an elected and enhanced Dewan Negara.

Wong is a true Malaysian federalist. His challenge to Sabahans and Sarawakians who want their home regions to leave Malaysia was cheeky.

He wanted them to first advocate for the kind of Malaysia they want to see, with secularism, multiculturalism and decentralisation, and even to Borneonise Malaya.

Such a challenge is simply a clever play of reverse psychology, as he explains in his second posting in response, to push Sabahans and Sarawakians to develop a stronger sense of ownership in Malaysia.

I may not agree with many of Wong’s ideas, but I am happy to listen to him.

I hope Khaled and other leaders from the peninsula would listen too, not just to him, but also to more Sabahans and Sarawakians to understand what Malaysians of various backgrounds want of Malaysia.

Please be open minded and gentle with dissenting voices. - FMT

Wilfred Madius Tangau is the president of Upko.

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