Although former Sabah Chief Minister Harris Salleh has challenged his successor Joseph Pairin Kitingan, his younger brother Jeffrey and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leaders to a debate, it seems the dare has fallen on deaf ears.

Instead, their proxies, supporters and ghost-writers have taken up the challenge and are currently engaged in a full-on war of words in the local media.

The headlines in local dailies in recent days speak for themselves: ‘Amused by our double-standard politicians’, ‘Sapp should contest in Labuan to prove it’, ‘Time right for more Sabahans in federal posts’, ‘Harris’ bully claims have basis’ and ‘Just who bullied who?’, are among the more memorable ones.

The topic: Who is a bigger bully? Pairin or Harris?

harris mohd salleh Even the most diehard of supporters in the Harris camp concede that the former Sabah chief minister came across as a bully when his Berjaya government led the state. However, they excuse this on the grounds that "he meant well, acted in good faith and brought a lot of good to Sabah by way of many development projects".

They are asking for a little latitude for the "perceived excesses and callousness of the Harris years".

"Harris’ opinion about Pairin being a bigger bully than Mahathir (Mohammad) hit the nail on the head. Harris must have had valid reasons for holding to that opinion and based them on Pairin’s actions and performance, both as PBS leader and chief minister of the PBS government," Bully’s Victim wrote in a letter to the Daily Express entitled, ‘Harris’ bully claims have basis’.

The thrust of the arguments in the pro-Harris camp is that it was during his (Harris) tenure that many development projects were implemented for the benefit of the people, therefore his actions were justifiable; his Berjaya government had administered the state effectively and in all cases acted as the trustee of the people in all its actions; and the primary objective of the Berjaya government was to distribute the wealth of the state to all Sabahans.

Key issues ignored

However, none in the pro-Harris camp have addressed the key issues raised by the pro-Pairin camp: of state coffers being almost empty and that the federal leadership under Mahathir had prevented PBS from developing the state.

joseph pairin kitingan "Harris should blame himself for what happened to him. He had it all and blew it through his own follies and excesses," wrote several ex-Berjaya members who are now in Sapp. "Many of us warned Harris several times not to take Pairin ( right ) for granted.

"His arrogant attitude was that even if all the KadazanDusunMuruts were so foolish as to run away and follow Pairin, he will still be able to form the government with the support of the others. So, he called for snap elections. What happened?

"Almost everybody ran away to PBS and Usno. This shows that people were fed up of Harris’ loud-mouthed bully tactics. He should take a good look at himself in the mirror before pointing his finger at others."

J/Z from Lagud wrote in another local daily that "Sarawak leaders have long been noted to be more shrewd and politically smarter than those in Sabah. Which is why Dr Mahathir was not able to bully them. We should learn from our neighbour Sarawak which has progressed tremendously without Umno.

"Instead of lambasting Pairin, Harris should help the current state administration voice issues that are of concern to the state and its people."

‘Umno bullying’ touched a raw nerve in Harris who has been accused in the past of being a "sore loser" who instigated former premier Mahathir against Pairin and PBS and being involved in the controversial ‘Project M’, a scheme which was stepped up after 1985 to issue identity cards to illegal immigrants, including many from the Indian subcontinent to allegedly pad the electoral roll.

Harris has consistently denied all such charges, but has fallen short of welcoming the proposed royal commission of inquiry on the issuance of ICs in Sabah.

The war of words erupted when Pairin responded to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s statement that Umno never bullied other BN component parties into submission. Umno bullying became an issue after outgoing MCA chief Ong Kah Ting raised it in his farewell address last week.