KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders must set their egos aside, regardless of ideology, to address the common interest of securing state rights, says veteran politician Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
The former Dewan Rakyat speaker said that fragmentation and disunity have left Sabah trailing behind Sarawak, in terms of political cohesion and effectiveness.
Speaking after a forum themed "Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63): Implications on Sabah Region," organised by the Institute of Development Studies Sabah (IDS) at Wisma Muis on Sunday (Aug 3), he noted that unity is the key to overcoming the challenges facing the state.
“The question is provocative - why is Sarawak far ahead of us?
"The answer is simple - because they are united. When it comes to Sarawak rights, all their political parties stand together.
“Unity leaves no room for division and rule. At the end of the day, whatever policies or enactments are made must be discussed in Parliament or the state legislative assembly. It all boils down to political will, as politics can change things within 24 hours,” he said.
Pandikar Amin reflected on the differing opinions among pre-Independence leaders, adding that despite their differences, they shared a common goal.
“There were those who didn’t want independence, some who wanted to continue under colonial rule, others who preferred independence with Sarawak first, and some who wanted to honour the Batu Sumpah (Stone of Oath).
“Yet, they all united under one decision – to form Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963, alongside Sarawak, Malaya, and Singapore (which later separated to become an independent state), because the then Sabah leaders did not want to be taken by Indonesia or the Philippines.”
He drew parallels to the current situation in Sabah, where leaders are at a crossroads but remain divided.
“In politics, we all want the same outcome, but the methods differ. It’s time to put egos and personal differences aside for the greater good of the rakyat. We’ve been divided for too long, it’s time to unite and move forward together.
“We all have a common goal, It is alright to re-start the journey because this time, we are united and stronger,” said the (New) United Sabah National Organisation (Usno Baru) president.
Pandikar Amin, however, said that Sabah was not always lagging behind Sarawak.
“There was a time when Sabah’s leaders were vocal and strong-willed, while Sarawak’s leaders remained quiet, though they diligently worked behind the scenes.
“Past leaders believed that staying close to the source of power in the federal government would bring the development Sabah needed.
“However, in politics, the true power lies with the people and their votes. The rakyat ‘spoke,’ and the Sabah government fell to a two-week-old political party. Isn’t this a lesson for us all?”
He disclosed that the government did not last long as an Opposition and eventually joined the ruling coalition, leading to the implementation of the two-year chief ministership rotation.
“During our time in the coalition, we did everything just to stay in good standing. Now, we are still fighting for our rights as enshrined in MA63. Appeals are still ongoing in the courts to secure these rights,” Pandikar Amin said.
Also at the forum were Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and lawyer-cum-author Mazlianie Mohd Lan.
It was moderated by former Sabah attorney general Datuk Mariati Robert.
