State Reform Party of Sabah (Star Sabah) wants the federal government to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Malaya, as agreed to before the federation was formed.

We are not merely the 12th and 13th states of the Federation of Malaysia, as listed by the federation, Star Sabah chief Jeffrey Kitingan said in a statement yesterday.

“By reading the statements of the various Peninsular Malaysian leaders, including from PKR, DAP, MCA and Gerakan, they acknowledge that Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963, and that Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners in the federation.

“They also acknowledge that it was wrong for Sabah and Sarawak to have been downgraded to be the 12th and 13th states of Malaysia and have been wronged and mistreated by the federal government.

“They also noted that that there was malapportionment of development,” Jeffrey said, pointing out that the under-development and unfair and unjust treatment of Sabah and Sarawak by Malaya has made the people of the East Malaysia states very unhappy.

Even Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is from Sarawak, has admitted that massive disparity and under-development was one of the many causes of the people’s unhappiness in his state.

'Sabahans, Sarawakians have legitimate rights'

“The federal government cannot blame the people who have legitimate grievances. Sabahans and Sarawakians are not asking for additional rights or taking away any rights from the other states.

“We are seeking the restoration of our rights, and it is within the powers and in the hands of Malayan leaders from both the government and the opposition to take action and restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia, as promised in the formation of Malaysia in 1962-1963,” said Jeffrey.

The Bingkor  assemblyperson also expressed  deep disappointment with police personnel who turned out in full force in their ‘Black Maria’  to stop and arrest people from performing their commemoration rituals on the formation of Malaysia  at the Batu Sumpah (Oath Stone) monument.

“Why are the federal and Sabah governments preventing the commemoration of Malaysia Day at Batu Sumpah?   

“It is disappointing to see the police personnel turning out in full force with their Black Maria, ready to arrest the people performing their commemoration rituals at the Batu Sumpah,” said Jeffrey.

Hundreds of Sabahans  were prevented from entering the Batu Sumpah compound on Malaysia Day, which was yesterday.

“Officially, the federal and state governments are celebrating the 51st anniversary of the birth of the Federation of Malaysia, but their actions at Batu Sumpah run smack of blatant dishonour and disregard for Sabahans and the real Malaysia Day.

“It was Sabahans in the interior who had erected the Batu Sumpah Oath Stone and pledged their loyalty to the federation in return for the assurance that the federal government would honour their religious freedom (meaning no official state religion), land, forests and natural resources that belong to Sabah and that the local native customs, adat and traditions will be safeguarded,” Jeffrey said.

“By preventing the commemoration rituals, both the federal and Sabah governments are not recognising Malaysia Day and dishonouring the local native customs, adat and traditions.”