Keep mono-ethnic ‘imperialists’ out of Putrajaya, says Sabah MP

 

Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau said Sabahans and Sarawakians ‘must actively and passionately protect and reshape Malaysia’. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Sabah MP has called on Sabahans and Sarawakians to help prevent mono-ethnic “imperialists” from gaining control of Putrajaya.

Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau said protecting the original vision of a secular, free, and fair Malaysia was equivalent to protecting Sabah and Sarawak.

He urged Sabahans and Sarawakians not to be mere bystanders while racial and religious tensions escalate in Peninsular Malaysia. Instead, he encouraged them to align themselves with those who do not desire a mono-ethnic country.

“While they and we may not agree on everything, we have the common interest in protecting a Malaysia that appreciates its Nusantara origin, its cosmopolitan heritage and its British liberal legacies.

“We Borneans must bury Borneo exceptionalism and isolationism. Instead, we must actively and passionately protect and reshape Malaysia, to bring to life the original multiethnic, multifaith and liberal federation our parents signed up for in 1963,” he said.

Having previously labelled former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as one of the “Malayan imperialists”, Tangau also expanded his list today to include PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor.

Tangau, a former Upko president, said Hadi had attacked the fundamental idea of Malaysia and Sanusi had disrespected the state border between Kedah and Penang.

Hadi and Sanusi were seeking to revert Malaysia to the mono-ethnic, pre-colonial Tanah Melayu (Malaya) without the modern Federal Constitution, common law and the existence of Penang as a state.

“Guess how they would see Sabah and Sarawak, which were once colonies of Sulu and Brunei?” he said.

Last Monday, Mahathir claimed that promoting a multiethnic country went against the Federal Constitution, adding that the constitution “emphasises the ‘Malayness’ of Malaysia”.

Meanwhile, Sanusi and Hadi are both under investigation for remarks that touched on racial and religious matters and royalty. - FMT