Sabah Issues : Sabahans have been advised to use their wisdom, sincerity and good sense

Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans have been advised to use their wisdom, sincerity and good sense when reading the statement of Tan Sri Simon Sipaun about life in pre-independent Sabah.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said it is imperative the people of Sabah do so in order to avoid jumping to conclusions and making judgments over the whole situation.

"When you are reading Sipaun's statement, be sure that you use wisdom, honesty and logical sense when making your own perceptions or judgments on the news.

"This is because it is easy to make an overall statement but not enclose any reasons and comparison of those issues with what have been done by certain quarters to address the problems till now," he said.

Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, said this after receiving a courtesy call by new General Manager of Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd, Siti Sulaiman, at his office in the Public Works Department headquarters, Thursday.

He was commenting on reports by the former Vice-President of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) last Sunday.

During the United Borneo Front's (UBF) Inter-Party Dialogue and Leadership Exclusive Seminar at Beverly Hotel on March 5, Sipaun said life in Sabah was considerably better in many aspects before Malaysia was formed compared to now.

Pairin, who is also State Infrastructure Development Minister, said locals must look at their surroundings and the development in Sabah and the country and whether they are living in peace and harmony and enjoying development.

He said they must also look in terms of children's development in Sabah, advancement in education and other socio-economic aspects.

"Are we saying that now Sabah is not peaceful? Are we saying that there is racial tension in Sabah? Or are we saying that there is no development in Sabah and whether the past leaders in government have not done anything?Éso actually, what are we focusing at? We know there have been changes and we have been part of the government and its administration before.

"It is easy to say things and to criticise or to blameÉbut I come to this stage where we can ask ourselves whether we did help or did we not do anything to rectify arising problems.

"Or maybe the government has to do more. And if it is so, then I think it would be good to hear people proposing steps to the Government and provide constructive ideas and remedial proposal to address problems, rather than simply blaming quarters over situations that are liabilities to society or the whole of Sabah and Malaysia for that matter," Pairin said.

In comparison to other developed countries, he said there is a fact that needs to be accepted, that those countries are also facing certain problems that are raised especially during the fever of polling and elections.

"Therefore, if we say that Sabah and Malaysia do not face any problems, then we are not telling the truth. And if we say that we do not have room to improve, then we are not telling the truth also because each country has its own issues and ways to tackle them," he said.

To a question, Pairin agreed there have been negative and positive changes in Sabah and the country but as to why and the reasons for such changes to happen, this needed to be looked at properly and in a balanced way.

As any country develops, he said, it is important to look at what was there at the beginning like in terms of infrastructures development, human relation, allocations and population which are different from what it is today.

"What Sipaun said about intermarriages are common and that is why there are many 'peranakans' in Sabah. I think intermarriages are still common and it is not stopped.

"On racial problems raised by Sipaun, I believe comparatively 'yes' in terms of changes that bring different types of social changesÉnegative as well as positive ones.

"There have been changes as mentioned by Sipaun in his statement, but to be fair, we can have a forum to tackle each issue (raised by Sipaun)," he said.

According to Pairin, the government has carried out certain actions for the benefit of the people and for the nation to have a bright future.

Hence, those quarters that are against the government approaches for betterment certainly have their own agendas to hamper the noble intention of the government, he said.

He added those quarters probably have political agenda to go against the Government to attract more voters and supporters including confusing the people.

Source : Daily Express

Aki Sabah : We cannot just close our eyes and deny Tan Sri Simon Sipaun statement totally. The illegal immigrant still a problem till nowadays.