Look beyond ‘regionalism’ politics, Rafizi urges East M’sians

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has urged voters of Sabah and Sarawak to look beyond "narrow regionalism politics" pitting them against Peninsular Malaysia.

In a statement today in conjunction with Malaysia Day, Rafizi (above) said the political elites are those who are perpetuating "regionalism politics" for their own interest and not ordinary Sarawakians or Sabahans.

"In Sabah and Sarawak, the ones who are enriching themselves by (abusing) their powers while pointing fingers at 'semenanjung' for all the problems in the two territories.

"That is their shortcut to turning attention away from all their mistakes and breach of trust. They are hiding behind regionalism and driving a wedge among the rakyat," he said.

Rafizi said he visited Sabah and Sarawak very frequently and was aware of the challenges faced by the local population.

In view of this, Rafizi said the problems faced by Sabah and Sarawak were not limited to just unfair distribution of the nation's wealth but also unequal enforcement of the law, which had allowed unscrupulous individuals to profit.

East M’sia deserves better

"Our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak must choose a government that is not only honest but also intelligent, has a vision and efficient because the regions should be developed at the same pace as Peninsular Malaysia.

"If our brothers and sisters are satisfied with the present government who only talk about Sabah and Sarawak but are unable to develop the territories, no matter how much resources are given to the territories, it will be wasted," said Rafizi.

As for those in Peninsular Malaysia, Rafizi urged them to accept that Sabah and Sarawak are not being treated fairly based on the spirit of the formation of Malaysia.

"Sabah and Sarawak are described in the Federal Constitution as territories and not 'states' based on the spirit of the formation of Malaysia.

"I believe our brothers and sisters there deserve to be treated fairly and proportionately," he said.

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