KOTA KINABALU – There are lingering concerns around Pejuang’s moves as the new peninsula-based party gears itself for a formal launch in Sabah this month.
Sabahans are not particularly favourable towards the party’s chairman, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 95.
Having clocked some 24 years in total as Malaysia’s prime minister, and just a few years less as Umno president, he is held by many as being behind many of the current political woes in the state.
Allegations ranging from the practice of citizenships-for-votes and the infamous Project IC campaign to federal interference in Sabah’s politics, Umno’s entry into Sabah and the chief minister’s rotation system are just among a few in the list of maladies that Sabahans widely associate with him.
These general feelings hardly dissipated after Mahathir co-founded Pejuang in August 2020.
However, the state leader of Pejuang, Nicholas Sylvester Limbang, believes that a good deed would always overcome any challenges.
With 7,000 members statewide now, he is confident that Pejuang is poised to debut and win seats in the forthcoming federal elections.
In an interview with The Vibes’ Jason Santos, Limbang tackled queries about his credentials, as well as what Pejuang stands for and what it can achieve for Sabahans, ahead of the general election due by September 2023.
Jason Santos: Can you tell me about yourself?
Nicholas Limbang: I am a Kadazandusun Muslim born in Kg Nagapas Papar, Sabah. I was 18 when I embraced Islam in the United States. It was done on my own will and conviction.
My earlier school years started in St Mary’s Primary School in Papar and were continued at the Sacred Heart Primary School in Kota Kinabalu.
I went to La Salle Secondary School in Tanjung Aru and proceeded to obtain tertiary education at Arkansas State University in the US.
After that, I enrolled in the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Leicester in the UK, then did my MBA in strategic marketing at the University of Hull in the UK.
I am married with nine children. I’m also a lucky kampung boy who has been able to travel to many countries in the world.
Now, I work as an executive director of an international community development organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, serving the Asia-Pacific region.
The company’s networking and work span more than 40 countries worldwide.
I also head the local non-government organisation Pertubuhan Kadazan Dusun Murut Muslim Se-Malaysia, based in Putatan, where it serves Sabahans regardless of their ethnicity, religion and background.
JS: After doing so much already, why join politics?
NL: I am already comfortable with my work and contribution to society, but I am very disappointed with the politicians running the government, whose only interest seems to be to enrich themselves and not doing the right things.
I believe that “if the good people do not enter politics, we will be governed by bad people.”
Through politics, I will give my best and Pejuang’s best for the people of Sabah and Malaysia.
JS: What is the Pejuang setup like in Sabah at present?
NL: We have an all Sabahan State Leadership Council consisting of 21 people, and we are currently setting up coordinating secretariats in all 25 parliamentary constituencies in Sabah.
Sabah Pejuang has almost all of the ethnic groups in Sabah represented in the party leadership. We have Kadazan, Dusun, Sino, Murut, Bajau, Suluk, Brunei, Rungus, Bisaya, Sungai, Idahan, Tidung, and so on.
We place a very big emphasis on women's and youth participation in our organisation. Our Pejuanita wing is headed by a medical doctor with a good understanding of politics, having participated as a candidate in the last Sabah state election.
Our Pejuang Muda (Youth wing) head is a consultant trainer certified in the areas of human resources development and is a very dynamic person.
Our Pejuanita Muda (young women’s wing) head is also very dynamic and has been involved in welfare and charitable causes in Sabah and nationwide for many years.
JS: What makes Pejuang any different from other parties in Sabah?
NL: We are a new party – with new faces, new strategies and approaches – that is sincere about fighting for the rights of Sabahans and the rights of Malaysians.
We are keen to do this within a national-level party that has the bright potential of becoming the federal government of Malaysia as well as the state government in Sabah.
We are different, because we are committed to the principles of democracy, rule of law, and we are for a total fight against corruption.
We also put an emphasis on the involvement of women and youth in the development of our country.
JS: Sabah is a huge state, rife with problems. Can Pejuang bring about changes in the state?
NL: Sabah is a huge state with big potential, due to its rich endowed resources and diversity.
It is not a problematic state. What we see is that we only have problematic leaders.
We did have several good leaders. But many leaders are either incompetent and/or corrupt and abuse their powers for their personal or cronies’ interests.
We strongly believe that the state can be turned into a successful modern, prosperous and peaceful state if it is governed by the right leaders.
It is time for new leadership with better strategies and fresh approaches, bringing about more equal representation to the people of Sabah and part of the ruling party, to rule at the federal and state levels.
JS: What is the Pejuang approach?
NL: Pejuang, being a Malay and Bumiputera-based party, is dedicated to fighting for the rights and development of the Malays and Bumiputeras.
But given the chance, Pejuang will reign with justice and equality for all Sabahans regardless of their religion and ethnicity.
Pejuang will ensure that all races and religions are represented in the government.
It will govern according to the constitution. It recognises Islam as the religion of the federation, with all religion being allowed to profess and practice freely in peace and harmony.
Sabah has long been deprived of good leadership, and Pejuang will provide good Sabahan leadership for Sabah.
The success of Pejuang will benefit every single Sabahan. Corruption is bad for development.
JS: Will another national-based party work in Sabah?
NL: Yes, of course. Just look at Umno and Bersatu before this. Warisan is also now turning into a national party.
JS: Sabahans are a bit sceptical towards former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. How will you shake away these “bad vibes”?
NL: Bad sentiments are just that. They are not facts. We are facing this issue head-on by explaining that such bad propaganda are not facts, but just political propaganda.
Dr Mahathir is the best leader Malaysia has ever had, and he’s still around. He has developed Malaysia into one of the best economies in Asia.
At one time we were dubbed (one of) the Asian Tigers due to our continued streak of economic growth during his tenure.
He developed for us Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Menara Petronas, Proton, the F1 circuit in Sepang, the North-South Highway, and so on.
Dr Mahathir has been fair to Sabahans. He gave scholarships to Sabahan students to study overseas, he opened UMS (Universiti Malaysia Sabah) in 1994 for Sabahans.
He did not stop federal financial assistance to Sabah despite the (state) government being (won by) the opposition at one point.
He is for the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians, which was demonstrated in his attempt to redress the issue of the MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) during his tenure as the prime minister for the second time. This, we know, was not approved, because he did not get the two third members’ support necessary for it to be passed in Parliament.
JS: Will Pejuang field candidates in the 15th general election?
NL: Yes, of course. Tun Mahathir has declared that Pejuang will field 120 candidates in the general election. That is not inclusive of the numbers we will field in Sabah, which will be a substantial addition to the 120. – The Vibes, March 6, 2022
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