Kota Kinabalu: Veteran politician Datuk Jimmy Wong urged Sabah voters to go for parties that can form a Borneo Bloc with Sarawak.
He said Saturday would be a defining moment for Sabah to realise a “One Borneo United” referring to Sabah and Sarawak regaining autonomy and reclaiming what is due from the Federal Government.
“Sabah voters should replicate what has been practised by Sarawak voters all this while, that is to strengthen and give full mandate to local-based parties to demand the Federal Government equally develop both territories.
“Sarawak voters are deeply disappointed after rendering full support to peninsula-based parties in GE14, particularly with DAP winning six parliamentary seats.
“Yet none of the MPs were appointed full Minister. Only one got a Deputy Minister position. It is similar to when DAP won three seats in Sabah. None were appointed Minister,” he said in a statement.
He said in the 2021 state election, Sarawak punished all West Malaysian based parties, reducing Pakatan Harapan seats down to a measly two.
“The true colours of West Malaysian based parties are revealed after forming the government. Their top leaders do not keep their promise when they were in power,” he said as a former Pakatan Harapan representative from 2008 to 2018.
“Just when I thought all this while we have been fighting side by side to bring changes to Sabah, the reluctance to give back the 20 per cent oil royalty and 50 per cent tax revenue had somewhat disappointed many who had voted them in GE14.
“The question of loyalty does not arise as I had been the sole opposition assemblyman in the 2008 Sabah Assembly. But I remained steadfast with the party and rejected all offers to lure me over to the government bloc,” he added.
Jimmy said it is obvious that Sabah did not get its fair share by all ruling governments since the formation of Malaysia, be it Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.
Hence, the formation of Borneo Bloc is imminent to make sure the status as an equal partner as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is well recognised to make categorical demands of what Sarawak and Sabah truly deserves.
He urged Sabah voters to exercise their right to vote to tell whichever national party desirous of forming the Putrajaya government that they must run through Borneo first.
“This election will determine the future of Sabah in the next five years remembering the 60 years that went down the drain which did not bring any good to Sabah.
“I am optimistic that Sabah voters will choose the party that will be able to deliver the voice and aspiration of all Sabah people regardless of race and religion.
“There is no Putrajaya or Malaysia without Borneo. Without Borneo, there is only Malaya,” he said.
