Written by: Averroes
Could you feel the breeze in the air, the gust of wind bellowing and the trickle of vapor cooling your skin. You must have guessed it right. The Sabah Elections 2020 is coming, only in cinemas!
Watch as suddenly, Shafie's camp come hopping out and crash land into Musa's turf, this endless cinematic drama will drive you to the edge of your seats. Witness this enticing blockbuster that had shook people all across Malaysia into an endless incessant jaberring between two warlords of whom will ever succeed the throne of Sabah and claim thyselves as victors of the day?
Coming this 26th of September in cinemas near you!
Alright, that may sound a bit too overarching and exaggerated but, true as it sounds, there will be an upcoming State Elections in Sabah after a startling party-hopping incident which led to a court case!
Musa Aman had appealed to the Court of Appeal to restrain the elections with an injunction and declare himself as Chief Minister, but it seems that it is futile to bring it to the Federal Court since they should proceed and campaign for the best in the elections instead. On 12th of September, they have announced the candidates and Sabahans have hoisted their respective party flags and banners of their favourite political parties.
There are three things that the author would like to discuss here. As Sabahans and Malaysians, it is important for us to know the political scene in our country and participate in it involuntarily and voluntarily. These bunch of people voted would then determine our livelihoods from the way we live and the economy, hence our votes matters as much since we are the actual rulers of the country, not some random bimbos in a fancy building with air-conditioning and suit.
1) The Political Coalitions
In Sabah, there are four main blocs.
Firstly, it is the Warisan Plus Coalition which of course comprises of Warisan themselves and other Pakatan Harapan members such as PKR, DAP and Amanah. (Excluding BERSATU whom had mutinied). This coalition would also be supported by UPKO, which is United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation. There will be three different logos used which is from Warisan, UPKO and PKR. (PKR refused to use Warisan's logo like DAP and Amanah).
This coalition will be led by the caretaker Chief Minister himself, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Secondly, it is the GRS or Gabungan Rakyat Sabah which is a newly formed coalition in Sabah. They would consist of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR), United Sabah People's Party (PBRS) and allied with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). This coalition is then banded together with the ruling Federal Government and West Malaysian based parties of Perikatan Nasional and also Barisan Nasional. The notable one consists of UMNO, BERSATU, PAS, MIC, MCA and among others.
The man responsible to lead this coalition in Sabah is the controversial Bung Mokhtar, though if this coalition did manage to win, they have not decided who shall be the Chief Minister.
Thirdly are non-affiliated Sabah parties such as Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led my Anifah Aman, half brother of Musa Aman, Parti Liberal Demokratik (LDP), Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Sabah Bersatu Baru (USNO Baru), Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (HR). It is highly disputed if they were to win any seats, which coalition from the above will they support? Whether it is Warisan Plus or GRS?
For now, only the main parties of LDP, USNO Baru and GAGASAN are vying for all the 73 seats in the Sabah Elections.
Finally are independent candidates. It could be said that these individuals may support the Federal Government as they can be bought with money, positions, ranks and resources if they were to win any seats.
As we can see here, we can see that there is still a trend of racial politics even in Sabah. Sabahans claim themselves as the most tolerant and peaceful Malaysians in this country. At one degree it is definitely true in most cases, but by judging from the political foundations, we can assume that it is not entirely true. There are still religious and racial politics founded in Sabah.
There are Sabahan parties that fight for only the Kadazan-dusun people, there are parties that only support Muslim majority areas and parties that uphold Chinese interests. Perhaps in reality if outside the realms of politics, Sabahans maybe amicable and approachable. Though, it is wrong to generalize every Sabahan as non-racist and fully integrated with all backgrounds of society.
Recently, one party alleges the other party in Sabah and its leader for being an illegal immigrant and belongs to a backward race off the coast of East Sabah. When there is a heated argument, one Sabahan would describe the other Sabahan as being terrorists of the East and is undocumented at birth. Racism is exists everywhere we go, it is the matter of how we deal with it and cover it up.
It is how we delineate and divide each other into recognisable categories of people in different cultures and faiths. You may see this in UiTM. Even if we are all bumiputera of a common heritage and ancestral roots of the Austronesians, you may see West Malaysians and East Malaysians divided into their member clans. You will only see Sabah and Sarawakians hang out only and Semenanjung in their own groups. This applies most of the times, though both West and East groups do exist.
Even among Sabah and Sarawakians themselves, they hang out with each other in separate groups such as, one for Christian Borneans and the other for the Muslim Borneans. It is hard to ingrain consciousness and awareness that as Malaysians, why are we driven based off racial and religious politics and when it comes to creating friends?
2) Issues in Sabah
There are several issues that could be highlighted in Sabah among them would include this exhaustive list;
i) MA63 autonomy which has already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution, but has not been enforced properly, such as Capitation Grants and additional revenue to the state as provided under article 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, read with Part IV and V of the 10th Schedule.
ii) Oil Royalty that had been on contested arguments for decades, being part of Sabah's and a state natural resources as provided under the Federal Constitution and the ongoing Cabotage System. We may interpret the Oil Royalty as provided under the State List, List II, Item 2(c) of the Ninth Schedule that would including mining such resources.
The Cabotage System is not widely discussed as it involves taxing goods imported from Klang port to Borneo, increasing the price.
iii) Infrastructure that includes poorly managed and dilapidated roads, lights, electricity, internet access (Veveonah), housing, plumbing, water supply, schools, clinics, hospitals, the rights of the Natives of Sabah and their sustenance due to modernisation, and registration departments. Due to this, Sabah requires vast development and rapid engagement as even after 57 years of Malaysianhood, Sabah seems to be lagging behind compared to her West Malaysian contemporaries.
iv) Corruption, especially among the Police, Registration Department and Immigration Officers whom easily allow foreign immigrants such as the PATI Filipino and Indonesians to flock in and easily gain Malaysian rights. With the influx of illegal immigrants, they deprive many of Sabahan rights such as the right to vote, the right to seek a job and career and their overall general safety within this Federation.
Many of the Bajau and Suluk communities born in Sabah do not have the right to citizenship even when their generations before them have lived there because of these scandalous acts and the lack of basic infrastructure to get them registered and adequate transportation. Everyday, these children live on stilts above water and traverse jungles, rivers and oceans just to get to school.
Excessive illegal logging and the destruction of beaches to build resorts, new settlements are damaging these natives rights to their livelihood which is protected under article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution which certain precedents describe to include finding a safe abode, career, wage and salary and clean and sustainable environment.
v) The breach of Sulu terrorists, the remorseful claim by the Philippine Foreign Minister to claim Sabah as one of their Federal State and the ESSOCOM forces to fend off the impending attack also needs to be emphasized. Sabah is an integral part of Malaysia and our sovereignty as togetherness must be protected at all cost!
We must stand firm and bold together in the face of our adversaries, more forces must be deployed to the front and protect our nation from this barbaric encroachment. Sabah had shown a positive sign and approval to form Malaysia as equal partners within the Federation as per the Cobbold Commission Report of 1962 with more than 80% agreeing. If not, what are the basis of these uncivilized scum have to breed themselves into Sabah?
3) Ponders of thought
With all the political parties and issues discussed, now it is time as Malaysians, especially Sabahans to realise the grave tribulation suffered. Our votes matters, even among the youth that will be the forefront drive for the change and bright future of all Sabahans. We will soon replace the geezers and hale in Parliament and the State Legislative State Assemblies with our new fresh ideas and propose new manifestations.
As of now, there are around 1.1 Million registered voters in Sabah and 200,000 of them are residing outside Sabah, mostly centered in West Malaysia. Most of them do not wish to return back to vote because they are afraid of the following reasons;
i) Sabah is famous for party-hopping, this in turn creates an impression towards Sabahans that their votes will not matter as these politicians will change sides no matter what
ii) The ticket price to travel back to Sabah is very expensive as if we were to check the tickets, even for AirAsia, it is estimated to be around RM200-300. If one opts for Malaysian Airlines, that may double or even triple that amount. Many of the B40 and M40 communities of Sabah could not afford such a price just to return back to Sabah and end up not having their preferred political parties winning the elections or they suddenly switch sides again.
iii) Failing to uphold their promised manifesto and objectives (the political parties) are among the reasons why many Sabahans refuse to return back to their kampung to vote. Even after 57 years, there has been no revolutionary change in the atmosphere of Sabah and their rights had been left intact ever since then.
Due to this reason, we may present some resolutions as democracy and the right of suffrage belongs equally to all Malaysians. The only problem stems from those are are tasked and hold the responsibilities from the people that have chosen them to carry the duty to fulfill the needs and demands of the people. The people are the king and the MPs are our slaves, not the opposite or vice versa. This is what we have to realize. Politicians are not supposed to be worshipped or praised.
They only deserve that if they are able to prove, "actions speak louder than words."
There is an NGO attempting to fund tickets for Sabahans to return back. There are some recommendations for the Election Commission to open up casting centers in West Malaysia and Sarawak as well as to post their votes through mail. If so, any ideas or solutions should be encouraged to have their votes sent. If not, Sabahans and Malaysians should at least know of the problems and sufferings faced and share it, while finding ways to improve and raise awareness in solidarity.
For those voting, goodluck and hope you make the best choice!
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