Sabah Sarawak Union - United Kingdom

KUALA LUMPUR, Sabtu. - 9 August, 1965: suatu hari bersejarah dan hari pengumuman Tengku Abdul Rahman mengenai pemisahan Singapura yang menggemparkan seluroh ra'ayat Malaysia.

Hari ini, pengarang berita kumpulan akhbar2 Straits Times, Felix Abisheganaden yang menginterbiu segala tokoh2 yang bersangkutan dalam drama itu, melaporkan peristiwa2 yang membawa kapada perpisahan itu.

Tengku telah masok berbuat di-Landon Clinic pada hari Juma'at 25 June, hari terakhir sidang Perdana2 Menteri Commonwealth.

Sedang ia berbaring kata Tengku, fikiran-nya mela-yang kembali ka-tanah ayer dan masa'alah2 yang menghadapi Malaysia.

Banyak masa untok berfkir, kata Tengku lagi, walau pun ramai yang datang menziarahi-nya.

Sa-telah empat hari dihospital itu dan kesihatannya puleh. Tengku pun menchatitkan segala2 yang di-fikirkan-nya itu sa-chara mendalam.

Kata Tengku: "Saya telah menimbangkan burok baik-nya Singapura di-dalam Malaysia."

Tengku menunjukkan beberapa kajang kertass chata-tan-nya itu.

Sa-telah memperhitong segala perkara, nyata-nya keputusan-nya: "Demi ke-pentingan dan kesejahteraan Malaysia dan Singapura, le-beh baik-lah kedua negeri itu berpisah."

Tengku menchapai keputusan yang "menyayat hati" itu pada 29 June.

Pada hari itu juga di-Kuala Lumpur, Timbalan PM Tun Razak sedang bertemu dengan Perdana Menteri Singapura, Lee Kuan Yew, untok chuba menyelesaikan perselisehan.

Rundingan2 mereka itu "terang terang" tetapi ti-dak ada terchapai kemaju-an dalam usaha menyele-saikan sengketa antara Ke-rajaan2 Singapura dan Pu-sat.

Kedua2-nya pun memu-tuskan untok menunggu Tengku balek dari London.

Pada ketika itu juga di-London. bekas Menteri Pembangunan Negara Singapura. Tuan Lim Kim San berada di-London, Kata Tengku:

"Saya pun memberitahu-nya perasaan saya me-mengenai Singapura. Tidak ada siapa pun boleh mengatakan bahawa Kerajaan Singapura tidak di-beritahu awal2 akan perasaan kita itu."

Pada 1 July. ketika maseh dalam hospital, Tengku pun menulis surat kapada Tun Razak menyatakan perasa-an-nya itu dan meminta Tun Razak berunding de-ugan mennteri2 kanan.

Ayer mata Tengku mele-leh ketika ia menyerahkan surat itu kapada setiausaha peribadi-nya. Haji Nik Ha-san, untok di-poskan.

Pada 22 July, ketika bere-hat di-France, Tengku me-nerima surat jawapan dari Tun Razak.

Surat itu memberitahu Tengku bahawa Menteri2 kanan itu setuju penoh de-ngan Tengku bahawa Si-ngapura hendak-lah ber-pisah dari Maaysia.

Tiga hari kemudian-nya, pada 25 July, Tengku me-nulis balek kapada Tun Razak dan mengarahkan-nya supaya "meneruskan persiapan2 dari segi un-dang2 dan pindaan2 kapada Perlembagaan."

Tun Razak segera men-jawab dan memberitahu ia akan memanggil sidang pada 9 August.

Rang undang2 untok meminda Perlembangaan, Tun Razak memberitahu Tengku, akan di-bentang-kan hari itu dan di-lulus-kan hari itu juga.

Tengku setuju dan me-ngumumkan ia akan balek ka-tanah ayer sa-minggu sa-belum sidang Parlemen.

Dengan tidak berlengah2 lagi, Tun Razak mengarah-kan Peguam Negara, Inche Kadir Yusof menggubal perjanjian pemisahan dan rang undang2 pindaan itu.

Ini telah di-lakukan oleh Inche Kadir sa-telah berunding dengan pehak2 berkenaan di-Singapura.

Dalam masa tukar menu-kar surat yang bersejarah dan perundingan2 rahsia itu, tidak ada sa-siapa pun di - Singapura memberi angin2 pepechahan yang bakal berlaku itu.

PAP di-Singapura terus dengan perjuangan Ma-laysian Malaysia-nya.

Pemimpin2 Perikatan membalas kenyataan2 PAP, terutama Menteri Penerangan dan Penyiaran, Inche Senu bin Abdul Rahman.

Pada 28 July, Tun Razak terbang ka-Singapura dan menyeru Kerajaan Singapura "berbimbing tangan" dengan Kerajaan Pusat un-tok menjalankan rancha-ngan2 pembangunan bagi ra'ayat.

Lawatan itu merupakan usaha2 terakhir Tun Razak untok menyelesaikan seng-keta antara Kerajaan Si-ngapura dengan kerajaan Pusat.

Hingga ka-sa'at2 akhir itu pun pemimpin2 Singapura dan Malaysia maseh berharap bahawa dengan kembali-nya Tengku maka segala2-nya akan dapat di-atasi dan rang undang2 pindaan Perlembagaan itu tidak di-kirim kapada pen-chitak Kerajaan.

Tengku, dalam keadaan sihat dan riang gembira, tiba di-Singapura pada jam 3.50 dinihari 5 August dan menunggu-nya di-padang terbang ia-lah Tuan Lim Kim San.

Tuan Lee Kuan Yew, ketika itu berada di-Cameron High-lands.

Tengah hari esok-nya, Tengku terbang ka-Kuala Lumpur dan dalam sidang akhbar memberi-tahu ia akan menemui Tuan Lee.

Esok-nya, Juma'at 6 August, Tengku bertemu dengan Tun Razak, Dato Ismail, Tuan Tan Siew Sin dan Dato Sambanthan di-Residency.

Laporan Tun Razak mengenai usaha2-nya untok berdamai de-ngan pemimpin2 Singapura te-lah di-binchangkan.

Tidak ada lagi jalan untok me-nyelesaikan sengketa itu.

Lewat malam itu, pemimpin2 Singapura pun di-beritahu akan keputusan berpisah itu.

Pada 7 August, Dato Dr.Ismail pun menulis surat kapada Pesurohjaya Polis Singapura, Tuan John le Cain:

"Dengan ini saya memeren-tah Tuan mulai 1 August 1965 supaya menerima perentah2 dari Tuan Lee Kuan Yew, Perdana Menteri Singapura untok mem-bolehkan ia menjalankan tang-gongjawab-nya bagi keselamatan dalam negeri Singapura."

Pada hari itu juga, Tengku mengarahkan Brigadier S.M.Alsagoff, Panglima Brigade ke-4 Tentera Persekutuan di-Singa-pura:

"Sepeninggalan Tun, saya me-ngambil tanggongjawab penoh untok memberi perentah ini.

"Mulai 9 August 1965, tuan hendak-lah menerima perentah2 dari Tuan Lee Kuan Yew, PErdana Menteri Singapura kerana dari sekarang ia menguasai per-tahanan dan keselamatan Singapura.

"Perentah2 lain akan di-kirim selanjut-nya."

Pada jam 11.30 pagi, Dr.Goh Keng Swee manalipon pejabat Tengku untok mengator perte-muan antara Tuan Lee dan Tengku. Pertemuan itu pun di-ator.

Tuan Lee tiba di-Residency dengan motokar pada jam 12.30 tengah hari. Bersama Tengku ketika itu ia-lah Tun Razak, Dato Ismail, Tuan Tan Siew Sin dan Dato Sambanthan.

Tuan Lee mula-nya minta bertemu dengan Tengku saja dulu dan mereka pun masok ka-bilek lain. Mereka berunding sa-la-ma 30 minit.

Sa-telah keluar, Tengku me-minta kertas dan atas permin-taan Tuan Lee menulis sa-puchok surat kapada Dr.Toh Chin Chye, Timbalan PM Singapura. 

Kata Tengku: "Tuan Lee meminta saya menulis sa-berapa rengkas yang boleh. Itu-lah se-bab-nya saya tidak menjelaskan maksud chakap saya manakala saya memberitahu Dr.Toh sa-perti berikut:

"....Kalau saya chukop kuat dan dapat menguasai keadaan sa-penoh-nya, mungkin saya dapat melambatkan tindakan, te-tapi saya tidak..."

Menurut Tengku, Tuan Lee memberitahu-nya bahawa Dr.Toh dan Tuan S.Rajaratnam (bekas Menteri kebudayaan) tidak setuju dengan pemisa-han Singapura dan mereka enggan menandatangani per-janjian pemisahan.

Tuan Lee memberi jaminan bahawa dengan surat Tengku itu, maka Dr. Toh dan Tuan Rajaratnam akan menandatangani perjanjian pemisahan itu.

"Itu-lah sebab-nya saya me-nulis surat itu," Tengku men-jelaskan.

Satelah menerima surat itu, Tuan Lee meminta Tengku memberikan sa-buah kapalter-bang Angkatan Udara di-Raja Malaysia untok kegunaan-nya. Kata-nya ia akan mendapat-kan tandatangan Menteri-nya dan memulangkan perjanjian itu melalui setiausaha-nya hari itu juga. Tengku bersetuju.

Pada hari Ahad perjanjian itu, lengkap dengan tandata-ngan semua Menteri2 Singapura pun di-kembalikan ka-pada Tengku, pada sa-belah pagi-nya.

Pada jam 10 pagi, Majlis tertinggi Perikatan bersidang.

Salepas sidang itu, pada jam 11.05 pagi, Menteri2 Besar dan ketua2 Menteri berkumpul da-lam sa-buah belek jawatan-kuasa di-Dewan Tengku Abdul Rahman.

Tengku pun mengumumkan pemisahan Singapura dari Malaysia dan memberi kete-rangan mengenai perjanjian itu serta rang undang2 yang akan di-bentangkan kapada Parlemen esok-nya.

Sapanjang hari Ahad itu, Pesurohjaya Tinggi British, Lord Head berkali2 chuba menghubungi Tengku tetapi tidak berhasil.

Beliau di-beritahu bahawa pada malam itu, Menteri2 akan menghadhiri satu majlis jamuan. Beliau perge ka-majlis itu lalu berchakap dengan Tun Razak.

Lord Head datang ka-majlis jamuan itu tanpa di-undang kerana hendak berchakan de-ngan Tun Razak.

Ketua Menteri Sabah Tuan Peter Lo yang tidak sempat hadhir sidang Majlis Tertinggi Perikatan tiba pada jam 11.15 malam.

Sa-buah motorkar kerajaan menunggu-nya di-padang ter-bang dan membawa-nya ka-majlis jamuan.

Tun Razak pun memberita-hu-nya akan keputusan memi-sahkan Singapura.

Kata Tuan Lo: "Saya terke-jut sekali dan hampir2 tak perchaya...."

Sejurus salepas tengah ma-malam, beliau menalipon Men-teri2-nya di-Sabah atas hal itu. Mereka memberi kuasa penoh kapada-nya untok "membuat apa saja yang di-fikirkan baik sa-kali."

Pada hari Ithnin 9 August, jam 8.45 pagi, Lord Head da-tang ka-Residency dan mera-yu2 kapada Tengku supaya menanggohkan keputusan itu "sakurang2-nya sa-hari."

Beliau menyampaikan ka-pada Tengku satu perutusan dari Perdana Menteri British, Tuan Harold Wilson yang me-nyatakan perasaan "keham-paan amat sangat" atas hal itu.

Tengku memberitahu Lord Head bahawa segala2-nya telah selesai." Tidak ada apa satu pun yang boleh mengubah ke-putusan kami."

Lord Head kemudian menarek diri dari Residency.

Pada jam 9.15 pagi, Pesuroh-Jaya Tinggi Australia, Tuan Tom Crithchley pula menemui Tengku.

Beliau juga merayu kapada Tengku supaya menanggohkan keputusan itu, tetapi ia juga tidak berjaya.

Berkumpul

Pada jam 9.30 pagi, semua ahli2 Parlemen Perikatan ber-kumpul di-bilek Jawatankuasa nombor satu bangunan Parle-men.

Tengku pun memberitahu mereka keputusan yang telah di-ambil mengenai Singapura. Mereka harus mengundi un-tok menjaminkan kelulusan undi dua pertiga sa-bagaimana di-perlukan menurut Perlem-bagaan.

Tengku menyeru pemimpin2 Sabah dan Sarawak supaya menyokong rang undang2 pin-daan Perlembagaan itu.

Tanpa sokongan mereka, Kerajaan tentu tidak mendapat kelulusan rang undang2 itu.

Ketika locheng permulaan sidang Dewan Ra'ayat berbunyi pada jam 10 pagi itu, maka di-Singapura Tuan Lee Kuan Yew mengumumkan pe-misahan Singapura dari Malaysia.

Rang undang2 itu di-debat dalam Dewan Ra'ayat dan lulus dengan 126 undi. Tidak ada yang menentang.

Sidang tergempar Dewan negara pada tengah hari itu meluluskan juga rang undang2 pindaan Perlembagaan itu sa-telah berdebat selama dua jam.

Dalam satu sidang akhbar di-Singapura, Tuan Lee berkata Kerajaan-nya akan bekerjasa-ma dengan Kerajaan Pusat.

Di-Kuala Lumpur, Tengku menyatakan harapan bahawa Singapura akan mengechap keamanan, kesejahteraan dan kema'amoran.

Kata Tengku: "Kita sedia menolong saberapa yang boleh Saya yakin bahawa dalam berbedzaan kita akan bersua dengan titek2 pertemuan dan seterus-nya menchapai per-paduan. Sebagaimana kata pepetah: kalau jauh, berbau wangi..."

Source: Berita Minggu

KOTA KINABALU: Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is saying that a thorough analysis of secret British documents, de-classified after more than 30 years, would ultimately reveal a hidden agenda against the Borneo Territories and an international conspiracy to dupe Sabah and Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia.

The Bingkor State lawmaker suggested that the hidden agenda was to handover the Borneo Territories to become States in the Federation of Malaya.

“This was cunningly done in Article 1 of MA63 while the Proclamation of Malaysia unequivocally stated that Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were to be federated with the Federation of Malaya,” he said in a statement Friday.

“While Britain and Malaya openly agreed and promised that the Federation would create a new nation embracing the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (North Borneo then) and Sarawak, ultimately Sabah and Sarawak would be mere States.”

Dr Jeffrey who is also president of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), said the conspiracy also included the United States of America while the United Nations were implicated, as the UN party did not actually report facts.

“When the UN team were in Sarawak, they were met with numerous demonstrations, protests and objections including “Sarawak Want Independence Not Malaysia” but, unsurprisingly, to produce the “right results”, the contrary was concluded by the UN team saying that the Sarawakians agreed to Malaysia,” Dr Jeffrey charged.

The Oxford Skyline

“This is shown in the telegram dated 9th August 1963 from the Office of the British Secretary of State for the Colonies which showed that the Americans were assured that the UN assessment team sent to the Borneo Territories were hand-picked to produce the “right” results from the point of view of the British.”

Dr Jeffrey said he was forced to issue the statement in response to requests for his comments following the disclosure by the Sarawak Chief Minister (Abang Johari Openg) that his legal team had uncovered “never seen before” documents in London.

The same statement suggested that the Sarawak legal team would need months to unravel all the secret British documents that they have uncovered during their working visit to London to study and look into the historical documents that led to the formation of Malaysia and the rights of Sarawak in Malaysia.

“Some of these documents which the Sarawak team had not seen before are probably the secret documents kept by the British documents from the 1960s and de-classified after more than 30 years,” Dr Jeffrey also said.

“The documents they were referring to included secret documents, minutes of meetings, position papers, opinions, objectives, correspondences, telegrams and files relating to the formation of Malaysia.

“They were kept out of reach of ordinary Malaysians until they were de-classified and now accessible at the Archives in London and Oxford. However, they are nothing new to the Sabah rights activists who had “discovered” them after their de-classification.”

The Malaysian proclamation being read out by the late Tun Fuad Stephens at ‘Merdeka Padang’ Kota Kinabalu on 16 September 1963. Also present was the late Tun Mustapha Harun, Sabah’s first Head of State. – Internet photo

According to the opposition politician, many of the activists especially those under the United Borneo Front (UBF) had initiated their dissemination through their Borneo Tea Parties (BTPs) to highlight Sabah and Sarawak Rights in Malaysia since 2010.

“Even I have seen them when I was in London several years ago while further research into Sabah rights and the formation of Malaysia,” added Dr. Jeffrey.

The documents, he said, covered more than 5,000 documents and more than 20 files, meticulously kept by the British government, and well-kept, properly documented and preserved by the British Archives in Kew Gardens, London.

It would take the Sarawak team months to go through and study the documents as a 1-week visit in London would have been insufficient to pore through the documents other than to gather and get copies of the documents.

As rightly pointed out by the then President of Indonesia (Sukarno), in the formation of Malaysia, colonial status of Sabah and Sarawak would not change and the only change would be the transfer of the colonial office from London to Kuala Lumpur.

An undated photo. The Malaysia Agreement was signed by (from second left) Dato Abang Haji Openg, Tun Jugah, Dato Bandar Abang Mustapa, and P.E.H. Pike (not pictured) in London on July 12, 1963. – Photo credit Borneo Post

According to the STAR chief’s statement, the Federation of Malaya took advantage of the naivety of the Borneo leaders while eyeing the rich resources of Sabah and Sarawak.

“It resulted in the unconstitutional taking over of their oil and gas resources to fund the development of Malaya and treated as colonies of Malaya,” he charged.

“The rape and pillage of Sabah and Sarawak were complete with the 1975/76 vesting of their oil and gas and the downgrading to be the 12th and 13th States of Malaya with effect from 27 August 1976.

“After 54 long years, Sabahans and Sarawakians have now awoken to demand for their rights and rightful place as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia and undo the takeover of Sabah and Sarawak as the 12th and 13th States of Malaya.

“The ball is now at the feet of the Federal government and the Malayan leaders.”

Dr Jeffrey also pointed out that Lord Cobbold, (Chairman of the Cobbold Commission) warned that “If any idea was to take root that Malaysia would involve a ‘take over’ of the Borneo territories by the Federation of Malaya and the submersion of the individualities of North Borneo and Sarawak, Malaysia would not, in my judgment, be generally acceptable or successful.”

“The warning was added the warning from Sir William Goode, the last British Governor of North Borneo who warned “Tunku must avoid taking over the Borneo territories as colonies. Any impression of being transferred as colonies will provoke a “merdeka” (independence) movement against Kuala Lumpur, potentially irresistible.”

Source: Borneo Today

JESSELTON, Sabah, Ithnin. - Ra'ayat di-sini telah terkejut menerima berita per-asingan Singapura daripada Malaysia yang di-dengar di-sini melalui Radio hari ini.

Satu siaran rasmi yang di-keluarkan oleh Pejabat Penerangan ber-kata tidak sa-orang pun dari Menteri Sabah yang di-hubungi hari ini sanggup membuat ulasan me-ngenai perasingan Singa-pura daripada Malaysia.

Bagaimanapun, kenyata-an itu menambah bahawa Tuan Thomas Jayasuria, Menteri Perolehan2 Alam, bertindak sa-bagai juru-chakap untok Menteri2 lain berkata Kerajaan Sabah telah-diberitahu terlebeh daulu mengenai perkara itu.

Dia menambah bahawa akan perlu kelak untok me-nerangkan kapada ra'ayat tentang hal itu tetapi ini hanya dapat di-lakukan sa-telah Ketua Menteri Sabah, Tuan Peter Lo, yang sekarang berada di-Kuala Lumpur, pulang ka-mari.

Walau bagaimanapun, ma'alumat2 yang di-terima sekarang tidak memadai untok menjadi asas ketera-ngan2 lanjut.

Tuan Jayasuria me-nyeru ra'ayat supaya ja'ngan bimbang. "Mereka hendak-lah tenang. Perasi-ngan Singapura daripada Malaysia di-chapai dengan persetujuan dan kedua2 Kerajaan itu tentu-lah telah meninjau perkara itu dengan sa-penoh-nya dan menchapai kesimpulan ba-hawa dalam keadaan sekarang. perasingan ada-lah untok kepentingan kedua2 negara itu".

Beliau menegaskan per-setujuan itu juga mene-kankan perhubongan erat antara kedua negara itu mengenai pertahanan dan perdagangan.

Ada-lah di-fahamkan di-sini bahawa Tuan Peter Lo dan Dato Donald Stephens yang sekarang berada di-Kuala Lumpur akan pulang ka-Jesselton pada hari Rabu untuk menerangkan perkara itu kapada ra'ayat Sabah.

JESSELTON, Ithnin. PERTUBOHAN Pasokmomogun Kadazan Kebangsaan Bersatu atau UPKO di-ketuai oleh Menteri Untok Hal Ehwal Sabah merangkap Pertahanan Awam, Dato Donald Stephens hari ini menuntut supaya di-tinjau kembali sharat2 yang di-buat berhubong dengan penggabongan Sabah di-dalam Malaysia menimbangkan pengasingan Singapura daripada Malaysia.

Sa-buah kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh Parti itu berikutan dengan persidangan Majlis Nasional malam tadi berkata bahawa sa-buah jawatankuasa tetap terdiri dari enam orang telah di-lantek untok "meninjau sa-penohnya hal itu bersama2 dengan teman2 UPKO dalam Perikatan Sabah".

Majlis Kebangsaan UPKO juga menyatakan "kebimbangan yang berat" terhadap perhubongan masa hadapan Kerajaan Pusat dengan Sabah kerana "Sabah tidak di-ajak berunding sabelum di-buat sa-chara mu'tamad keputusan untok mengasingkan Singapura daripada Malaysia" dan kerana UPKO yakin nasib Sarawak terikat erat dengan nasib negeri2 Malaysia yang lain seperti Singapura.

Kenyataan itu menambah bahawa "rasa kesal yang dalam telah di-nyatakan terhadap chara Sabah di-layani dan kata sa-pakat terchapai bahawa sa-bagai salah satu negeri anggota yang bersama2 membentuk Malaysia, Sabah berhak di-ajak berunding sabelum keputusan yang bagitu besar kesan-nya telah di-buat."

Meshuarat Majlis Kebangsaan itu juga menimbangkan kesan2 yang berhubong dengan pengasingan Singapura.

Dato Donald Stephens yang memimpin meshuarat itu telah memberikan keterangan penoh terhadap apa yang telah berlaku di Kuala Lumpur mengenai keputusan itu.

Dato Donald Stephens menawarkan diri sanggup berhenti dari pada pimpinan UPKO tetapi Majlis itu merasa dia "tida sadikit pun patut di-salahkan kerana apa yang telah berlaku" demikian juga Kerajaan Negeri.

Majlis itu memutuskan bahawa soal perchantuman semua parti dalam Perikatan Sabah harus di-anggap sa-bagai satu soal yang amat penting dan akan membawa hal itu dalam meshuarat Majlis Kebangsaan Perikatan esok.

Ada-lah di-fahamkan Pertubohan Kebangsaan dan Sabah Bersatu (USNO) dan Persekutuan China Sabah akan mengadakan meshuarat masing2 dan akan memberitahukan sikap mereka kepada parti2 lain.

PAPAR, July 22 ― Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded Umno members and the people of Sabah not to be influenced by an attempt by outsiders to “Brexit” Sabah from Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Ahmad Zahid said the action of these outsiders, including former state and national Umno leaders, is wrong and could have a negative impact on the people and the state of Sabah.

“If there are people from outside or those who used to be in BN, who tried to get the Sabahans out of the Umno and BN ring, they are wrong,” he said when opening the Umno Zone Three delegates conference at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bongawan near here today.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman; Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who is also Kimani Umno chief; Papar Umno chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail and Beaufort Umno chief Datuk Isnin Aliasni.

Brexit is an abbreviation for “British exit”, referring to the United Kingdom’s decision in a June 23, 2016 referendum to leave the European Union (EU).

Ahmad Zahid said some of the Brexit voters had regretted their move because the results were not as good as they had hoped for.

“Sabah does not want to be Malaysia’s ‘Brexit’. Sabah does not want BN and Umno to lose. Not the leaders who have to deal with the consequences but the people,” he said.

If Sabah leaves Umno and BN, the risk is too high as what some previous state governments had faced when they set up governments that were not in line with the federal government, he said.

Hence, he said the current political situation in Sabah, in which there is a power-sharing among BN component parties, should be continued for political stability, even though the state legislative assembly seats would later be increased from 60 to 73.

“I hope our friends in BN will not put pressure on the chief minister. We hope that our friends in BN will negotiate accordingly. The important thing is not the allocation of seats but that Umno and BN can rule comfortably in Sabah,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid is confident that the Umno-led BN government would be maintained despite the additional state seats because a study by the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in 2016 revealed that 76 per cent of Sabahans still wanted BN to continue the agenda to develop Sabah.

In fact, he said the research also showed that 71.2 per cent of the Sabahans had regarded that BN had  successfully transformed Sabah which proved that they still wanted Umno and BN to govern Sabah.

He also reminded Umno members and the people in Sabah to learn from the Tanduo incident in Lahad Datu and the militant attacks in Marawi, southern Philippines, to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said he would strengthen the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to ensure that the safety and stability of Sabah were preserved.

Source: Bernama

I am a Semenanjung newcomer in Sarawak, and I fully support this page's (Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia Facebook Page) effort to shield Sarawak from the negativity of Semenanjung.

Yes, liberalism in religion is prohibited. And so is extremism. 

Many Sarawak Malay Muslims don't mind if the Non-Muslims, or Muslims rule their country, why? They trust each other, they uphold unity of Sarawak more than their own religion and race. Sarawak first, then whatever race or religion you are.

I have friends from the Sarawakian Malay community, Sabahan Catholic, Orang Ulu Evangelists....and they are respecting each other. The non-Muslims even apologized to me for eating or drinking in front of me, eventhough I said to them, "no, I don't mind it".

The Christians used Allah in their Bible? I asked carefully to my Christian friend why. And I get the answers. And I understand the decades of mixing between Muslims and Non-Muslims. And the Sarawakian Malay Muslims know the difference between the Islamic Allah, and the Christian "Allah".

No racists and ultra-religious nuts here. People are open-minded, even the Muslims here.

And it's total opposite of the culture I have been taught and raised in Semenanjung.

If the independence of Sarawak is because wanting to shield the racism, ultra religious, division and corruption from infecting this fair land, let it be. 

The liberalism practised here is tolerance and knowing and respecting other religions, not clamming in your own race and religious shell, just like in Semenanjung. 

Mosque and church side by side? No problem here, but a major issue in Semenanjung. 

Go to a Christian or Buddhist marriage? No problem here, labeled as heretic and "murtad" in Semenanjung. 

If given the choice of being a Sarawakian or a Malayan? I'll choose Sarawakian. No point living with my brethrens who does not know anything about things beyond the South China Sea. 

And I base all of this from my experience, living both in Sarawak and a native Semenanjung. 

Peace out.

Source: Muhammad Irfan Daniel