Tan Sri Simon Sipaun stating the truth based on his pleasant memories of life in Sabah

Kota Kinabalu: Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said he is amused that certain quarters should lodge police reports for stating the truth based on his pleasant memories of life in Sabah during the colonial administration.

The former Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Vice President said that was his intention during concluding remarks at the panel discussion which he chaired at the United Borneo Front (UBF) Inter-Party Dialogue and Leadership Exclusive Seminar last Saturday.



"What is wrong for me to tell the people what I remembered of Sabah, then known as North Borneo, before Malaysia was formed "I was 25 then and know what I was talking about," he said.

Sipaun was commenting on a report lodged against him by two Umno Tawau divisions over remarks which the divisions alleged were misleading and seditious and could "mislead" the people to go against the government of the day.

He said he did not say he was against the Malaysia Agreement, but only that life was better in the colonial days.

Sipaun had said that life in Sabah was considerably better in many aspects before Malaysia was formed compared to now. He said, admittedly, there was no development as seen today but that Malaya was not much better.

"There was no racial problem. Mixed marriages were very common. That's why there are many 'peranakans' (babas and nyonyas) in Sabah.

If Sabahans are now conscious of racial and religious divides, they learned from Semenanjung," he had said.

"There were no illegal immigrants. There were no cases of Sabahans losing citizenship status while foreigners gained it without much difficulty.

"There were no repressive and draconian laws such as the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Internal Security Act (ISA), the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, the Police Act and the Proclamations of Emergency."

"There was no quarrelling over dead bodies. The composition of the civil service was multiracial.

Meritocracy was appreciated, observed and practised. Corruption and 'ketuanan Melayu' were unheard of.

The list continues "How not to miss pre-Malaysia?" Sipaun noted.

Sipaun said there is no basis for him to retract or apologise for what he had said.

"Under the Constitutions, I have the liberty to express my opinion like them (Umno divisions) they disagree with what I have said and expressed their opinion, which I am quite happy," said Sipaun.

Sipaun, who is currently in Kuala Lumpur attending to official matters, he said he is also prepared to give his full cooperation to the police if warranted.

Source : Daily Express

Aki Sabah : I dont know why the politician so sensitive about Tan Sri Simon Sipaun statement. For me, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun have rights to express his pleasant memories.