MP SPEAKS Whilst the recent approval by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) of the ‘red shirt’ rally shows that ‘a gathering’ can be allowed (as opposed to their reaction when it was Bersih 4), it does however spell another low for this current prime minister and his BN government.

It has become apparent now more than ever that this government is either nonchalant or is unable to comprehend the difference between the democratic demands and intents of Bersih 4 and the ‘racist and extremist’ agenda of the so called ‘red shirt’ rally and its organisers.

To even hold a ‘racist’ event on Sept 16 also shows how that particular grouping of people had failed in their history lessons as they seem to think that Sept 16 is of no significance let alone to also think that the Federation of Malaysia only belongs to ‘one race’!

This prime minister had clearly failed to appreciate the democratic rights of its citizens to speak constitutionally as he has ignored the paramount importance of Sept 16 as his Barisan Nasional government has not declared the so-called ‘red shirt’ rally as one that is filled with a ‘racist agenda’ and one that will bring the whole idea of the Federation of Malaysia as agreed to between Sabah, Sarawak, Malaya and the then Singapore in 1963.

Sept 16 is a day to not only honour the formation of the Federation of Malaysia but also for us in Sabah, Sarawak and West Malaysia (today) to reflect if the spirit and letter of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 had really been adhered to and performed by the union of these three partner states.

The so-called ‘red shirt’ rally does not in any way or form relate to the formation but rather a step backwards to an era filled with suspicion and hate.

The time has come for all peace-loving citizens of the Federation of Malaysia, more so from Sabah, Sarawak and the majority of those who respect and honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 from West Malaysia, to remind and demand Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his Barisan Nasional entourage who for now has been given trust to govern the federation honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963, to criminalise racism and to accept that this federation belongs to all its citizens.

The sultan of Johor in his statement today has shown the people of the Federation that he too cannot accept the ‘racist’ and ‘illogical’ minds of the minority who thinks that the federation belongs to only the Malays. This federation belongs to each and every lawful citizens of the federation.

No different from Ku Klux Klan

So why can’t Prime Minister Najib and his Barisan Nasional entourage just once and for all make all attempts possible to make clear as the sultan of Johor had proclaimed that this federation belongs to all its citizens and that all those who participate in the ‘racist’ agenda this Sept 16 should be arrested for crime against the federation as they are no different from the Ku Klux Klan in the United States of America.

I put it to the prime minister that if he allows the ‘red shirts’ to exist with its racist agenda, then this prime minister and his Barisan Nasional cohorts are collectively responsible for the decline of the once progressive Federation of Malaysia and a federation which could only exist because of Sabah, Sarawak and West Malaysia (today).

In the main, I urge those right-thinking Barisan Nasional members to show their political master, Najib, that they (those right-thinking BN members) too cannot be part of this nonchalant attitude by allowing the ‘racist’ red shirt ralliers to do as they please and the disrespect towards the whole intents and purpose of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.

And I ask this state government to immediately list out all that Sabah had lost out by virtue of the non performance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and for the immediate reinstatement of Sabah and Sarawak as an equal and founding partner of the Federation of Malaysia.

A start would be for this incoming parliamentary session to reinstate the original description of the Federation of Malaysia and a promise from this government to amend the definition of the Federation of Malaysia in the federal constitution as per the original Article 1 prior to the amendments which relegated Sabah and Sarawak into mere states in August 1976.

Meanwhile, on behalf of my family and myself, we wish all citizens of the Federation of Malaysia for a renewed spirit to uplift and honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 this Sept 16, 2015 and to remind ourselves that this federation does not belong to any ‘one’ race but by all citizens equally. God save the federation.

DARELL LEIKING is Penampang MP and PKR vice-president.