Sabah, Sarawak must work out strategy. Promote both states as the Other Malaysia: Madius
Published on: Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Madius hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could see the danger of prolonging the KK witch-hunt and order five ministers in charge of National Unity; Islamic Affairs; Home Affairs; Investment, Trade and Industry; and Domestic Trade and Costs of Living to put their heads together to deescalate and end this crisis.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah and Sarawak should adopt a clear branding that is reasonable, stable, inclusive and at ease with diversity, said Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
“We should prepare to attract both foreign investments coming to Malaysia and also domestic investments leaving Malaya.
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“We have been the real “Madani” (at least in compassion, respect and trust) country even before Malaysia was formed. Moderation is our middle name.
“I hope Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari can see both the crisis and opportunity we are in.
“Both states should aggressively enhance ‘equity, diversity and inclusion’ (EDI and cosmopolitanism at home and set up trade and investment offices overseas.
If Malaya insists on playing with fire, Borneo must grow faster as a haven for investments and talents,” he said, in a statement.
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Commenting on the furore caused by the Allah-worded socks, Madius said the KK witch-hunt needs to be stopped to save Malaysia, Ringgit and Madani.
“As a Sabahan with many Muslim friends and relatives, I fully empathise with Muslims’ anger and sadness upon finding the word Allah on the stockings.
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“I too feel offended whenever non-Christian and non-Borneo natives tell us that ‘all religions prohibit the consumption of alcohol’, not knowing the role of wine in holy communion or the centrality of rice wine (tapai, tuak), rice spirit (Montoku, Langkau) and palm wine (Bahar) in native cultures and folk beliefs,” he said.
Madius hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could see the danger of prolonging the KK witch-hunt and order five ministers in charge of National Unity; Islamic Affairs; Home Affairs; Investment, Trade and Industry; and Domestic Trade and Costs of Living to put their heads together to deescalate and end this crisis.
“Let the fire burn, and the collateral damage would be Malaysia, Ringgit and the Madani Government, alongside KK and Xin Jian Chang.
“The witch-hunt will defeat the Government’s efforts to bring in foreign investment and stabilise Ringgit. We have been told that Ringgit is undervalued, as our fundamentals are strong and only market confidence is weak.
“My foreign friends in the business community are watching the developments in horror. If negligence can lead to a death sentence for a retail chain that is planning to go for IPO, what would protect their investment from rogue competitors or extorting law enforcers?
“What would they take the risk of building up a business only to be destroyed or harvested by others? More than losing foreign investments, we may see capital flights from even domestic investors.
“Finally, the witch hunt will hurt the Madani Government in GE16 if not earlier,” he said.
Hence, to avoid being dragged to the bottom by Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak should cultivate a clear branding as the “Other Malaysia” he said.
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