KOTA KINABALU – Sabah became a victim of excessive political manoeuvring after it was downgraded as a mere state, instead of being the equivalent of the entirety of Peninsular Malaysia, said Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud-Warisan).
She said Sabah MPs may have supported the constitutional amendment in 1976 because they were made to believe that the federal government would bring about progress for the state.
“Sadly, Sabah is an unfortunate rich state. The people were supposed to reap benefits from the 1976 constitutional amendment.
“Only for a short while, had Sabah enjoyed rapid development – where it was as developed as Selangor at the time.
“But the flow of rapid development for Sabah became slower after the change of premiership, especially when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) came into power. Development came to a standstill,” she said while debating the constitutional amendment in Parliament today.
Isnaraissah Munirah told the lower House that Sabah should not be punished for the political change as the PBS government was voted in by the people, and their decision should be respected.
“Subsequently, Umno spread its wings into Sabah and became the government – but the same pressure was applied when the rotational chief minister system was implemented,” she noted.
Isnaraissah Munirah said while Malaysia was branded as an “Asian Tiger”, Sabah became a backward state due to excessive political manoeuvring.
She alleged that Kuala Lumpur – which was the nation’s administrative capital prior to Putrajaya – wants Sabah to be subservient and follow what they are told.
“Until today, this manoeuvring has not stopped. During the glory days of Malaysia, Sabah lost its golden moments and chances to be very progressive.
“Sabah was always made to obey and follow the whims and fancies of Kuala Lumpur,” said the opposition lawmaker, adding that restoring the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is a return to the right track for Malaysia. – The Vibes, December 14, 2021
