LABUAN: It is ironic for some Sabah-based parties to object peninsula-based ones participating in the Sabah election but say nothing about three Sarawak parties, according to activist Lau Seng Kiat.
“These Sarawak parties actually have no business to be in Sabah unless they are supposed to weaken Sabah parties through splitting votes.
“It fact these parties have been shamelessly rejected by Sarawakians,” said the former DAP member who stood as an Independent in Labuan parliamentary elections.
Lau was referring to Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Parti Aspirasi Rakyat and Parti Bangsa Malaysia who jointly are contesting in 21, out of the 73 seats.
“They have been openly insulting Sabahans by saying they came here to help them fight for their rights,” he said.
“I wonder how would Sarawakians feel if Sabah parties were to expand there to teach them how to fight for their rights.
“Some of them have the potential to split votes suggesting they have an agenda to see Sabahans divided. Their loyalty is for Sarawak.”
Lau questioned why these parties with political ambitions would rather pick Sabah rather than spread their wings to peninsula, especially the Klang Valley, Johor and Penang where close to 500,000 Sabahans and Sarawakians are said to be residing as students or for work.
He said although these Sarawak parties are expected to lose their deposits, it may not matter if they have been planted by interested parties with deep pockets.
Otherwise, why should they also only show up when the State election is expected to be called, before vanishing again.
While on the topic of peninsula parties, he urged Sabahans not to fall for the hollow rhetoric that only Sabah-based parties can protect their interests.
He said if this was the case, Sabah would not be among the poorest states 60 years after agreeing to be part of Malaysia.
“Unless these Sabahans have short memory or were not born then, they should be reminded about the damaging motion that was passed in parliament in 1976 to reduce the status of both Bornean states to be similar as Perlis, i.e. as one among 11 , instead of one among three.
“That Bill was supported by traitor MPs from both states and the Hansard has the list of who these traitors were. A handful like Tun Mustapha absented themselves, which was the more honourable thing to do.
“But none of the so-called Sabah parties questioned or protested the move, except for DAP’s Lim Kit Siang.
“This should serve as a warning to all Sabahans to be cautious about putting all their eggs in the Sabah basket and rejecting peninsula parties who can be relied on to protect their interests,” he said.
