Time For KL To Review 'Unfair' Policies in Sabah

DAILY EXPRESS
Monday, 31st March 2008

Kota Kinabalu: It is high time the Federal Government review some of the current policies that are extremely unfair and are impoverishing Sabah, said former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Tham Nyip Shen.

This includes the present requirement for Sabah to export its commodities such as cocoa and palm oil through ports in Peninsular Malaysia, besides paying a higher price for consumer goods.

Speaking to reporters here Sunday, Tham, who is also State Science Advisor Datuk Tham Nyip Shen highlighted that due to the an unfair policy, the State is currently estimated to lose about RM300 million of revenues from palm oil export (of an estimated six million tones) alone per annum, based on the current market price of between RM40 - RM50 per tonne.

"With such an unfair policy, how can we not be poor?" he asked.

He pointed out that the lost revenues were actually sufficient to increase the development fund for each MP in the State to RM3 million for them to help improve their constituencies.

And while welcoming the recent statement made by the recent Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Ahmad, Tham who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) 'think-tank' chief reiterated his previous call to implement a 'uniform pricing policy' for goods across the nation, in order to be fair to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

Sharir had said that consumers in the country can expect major changes in the demand and supply mechanism, including doing away with controlling the prices of essential goods.

"When Datuk Shahrir assumed the post of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, he made a few interesting announcements and this certainly gives fresh hope to Malaysians, Sabahans included. This, I say syabas! (well done!) to Datuk Shahrir.

"But, I am particularly keen to pursue an old topic - uniform national pricing policy across the nation. It is never the fault of Sabahans and Sarawakians that we are being separated by the largest sea in the world - the South China Sea. Unfortunately, we are severely punished as a result i.e. paying a higher price for consumer goods (between 20 per cent - 50 per cent )," he said.

He said the case of America which is about 28 times larger than the size of Malaysia, to further illustrate his point. [USA: Area (Land): 9,161,923 SQ KM. Malaysia: Area (Land): 328,550 SQ KM]

"To put it in perspective, traveling from east to west of United States of America requires 5 hours compares to just 2Þ hours in Malaysia. Yet, there is no price difference in most items between New York and Los Angeles when they are 2,462 miles apart compare to that of only 1000 miles between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

"I can quote a few other countries having no price difference. In Malaysia, even national newspapers are more expensive in Sabah, compare to Kuala Lumpur!" he said.

Tham asserted that the renewal of such call for a 'uniform pricing policy' is timely, especially when the people of Sabah and Sarawak had given so much support to the BN Government.

"Sabah is still being recognised as the poorest state in Malaysia, we are not asking for special privilege, what we want is not much, we just want a fair price, the same price that a Malaysian should pay! We hope to live like a Malaysian.

"I am confident that something positive can be done to give a fair treatment to Malaysians residing in Sabah. I would also like to reiterate my call for the Federal Government to equal the export price of commodities from Sabah too," he said.

"Without a fair treatment and a level playing field, Malaysians in Sabah will always be at the losing end and perhaps it is also part of the reasons why today Sabah is still being widely recognized as the poorest state in Malaysia. Why must we suffer all these injustices?" he stressed.

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The Jesseltonite Review

So finally some BN bigshot from Sabah dares to stand up and tell the Feds that it's time to review unfair policies towards all Sabahans. Isn't this a case of too little too late? For years, and without fear and prejudice I say this was especially so during Mahathir days, Sabahans were treated as second class citizens in Malaysia. Even the Bumiputeras here were treated as second class Bumiputeras.

Sabahans yearn for the days where race does not come into the political equation and the Chief Minister was selected based on the person leading the victorious party irrespective of race. There used to be Chief Ministers from the Chinese, the Kadazans, the Malays and it didn't really matter to us because most important, they were orang kita - orang Sabah.

Then came Dr. Mahathir with his big bags of cash promising a fucked up rotation system which was meant to systematically kill off Sabah. Many people did not support Barisan as an endorsement for the rotation system. In 1994, Sabahans voted not for Barisan, but against a corrupt and incompetent PBS government. In fact, Sabahans voted for a hope of 'Sabah Baru' MINUS the rotation system. PBS won by a majority of 2 seats then. But it was only too unfortunate for them that after the elections, PBS politicians were overwhelmed with greed that they forgot their sense of loyalty (the existence of which is still very much in doubt) and thus began the exodus of the kataks and the rotation system. The rotation system was a failed system. A Chief Minister from different race ruling for two years? This is the passport to legal theft. A gang rape of Sabah so to speak. With only two years, what can a Chief Minister achieve except to quickly fill up his pockets and leave for the rapist to go through the rounds. Osu Sukam lost all his ill-gotten gains in a UK casino. Yong Teck Lee sold off a few pieces of good land and even signed of the sea (the beautiful Likas Bay which fortunately was reviewed). In his overzealous attempt to stay in politics got caught moving in some illegal voters into his constituency Likas (I will write on this at a later date - for now I think this man with hideous sideburns should keep his mouth shut because he is not respected in Sabah as much as he thinks he is). Anyhow, the rotation system stopped just when UMNO was holding it. Coincidence? I don't think so. But UMNO or not, it doesn't matter because at the very least, the fouled rotation system has finally stopped. A federal minister (I forgot his name) even got the nerve to say that it is such an effective and fair system that it should be implemented in Penang. To this ignorant bastard I say, if it is SO effective and fair, why not rotate the post of Prime Minister amongst the races? Fool!

So, Mr Tham, bravo for speaking up but please don't stop there. It does not just end at forcing Sabah businesses to do their exporting to China and East Asia via Port Klang which is a stupid policy to begin with. It is not just making consumer goods the same price. It is about ending this 'big brother' attitude and viewing Sabah the way it should be..as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia. And this can start by reviewing Malaysia's history books. Sabah and Sarawak DID NOT join Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners together with Singapore and Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia. I will write on this topic a little later.