SANDAKAN: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi utilised the Sabah Barisan Nasional Convention here to address anti-Malaya sentiments levelled against the party as it gears up for the upcoming state election.
The Barisan Nasional chairman said the perception that Umno intruded into Sabah was off the mark as Sabahans themselves invited the party into the state in 1984.
“It was state leaders who wanted Umno and Barisan on Sabahan soil, not as a coloniser party but instead to bring unity and progress in the Land Below the Wind,” said the Umno president on Sunday (July 21).
“We want to share power because we do not want only the peninsula and Sarawak to have peace but there must be political stability in Sabah,” he added.
The Deputy Prime Minister said it was also untrue that Barisan would only bring about Malaya-centric rule, adding the autonomy lies with the Sabahan people.
“Who is governing Sabah? Is it someone from the peninsula who is the Chief Minister or who becomes minister or assistant minister?
“Only Sabahans can administer Sabah, as Sabah is for Sabahans, there is no intervention from Malaya parties.
“We are only sharing power to ensure Sabah become a developed state,” Ahmad Zahid said.
He also pledged to resolve the perennial water and electricity woes in the state immediately if given the mandate to govern Sabah once again.
“Sabah Barisan-Umno’s determination is to resolve the water and electricity issues within one term, this can be done.
“Only Barisan can solve this. I do not want to talk about other parties or individuals about this matter but this is what we want to do,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said all Malaysians made a collective effort to defend Sabah.
“During the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion, not only security forces from Sabah but also our friends from Perlis to Johor sacrificed their lives to protect the state.
“This is not about people from Malaya wanting to defend Sabah but it’s because Sabah is part of the Malaysian Federation which must be preserved by all in this country,” Ahmad Zahid said.
He added that an Umno minister had also gone to international courts to fight the claim on Sabah by another country and had succeeded in fending off the legal moves.
“What was said about Umno being a Malaya party? It is Umno who defended Sabah,” he said.
