A Strategic Discussion In Sabah

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What they want: (From left) Benedick, Malanjum, Pairin, the columnist, Dompok, Jeffrey, and Gunsalam. Despite representing three different political parties among them, the six community leaders agree on ‘Sabah first’ as a goal for the elections on Nov 29. — NorthBorneoTV
“WHY are we here?” I asked the group of prominent Kadazan-dusun leaders gathered in the Kadazandusun Cultural Association hall in Penampang, near Kota Kinabalu.
On Monday, I moderated a roundtable discussion titled “The Roundtable: Election Edition” organised by NorthborneoTV and Sabah Way Forward, an informal group focused on addressing the challenges the state faces and promoting its progress.
The “we” were Huguan Siou (paramount leader) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, former chief justice of Malaysia Tun Richard Malanjum, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, acting PBS president Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam, and Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick.
These prominent community leaders had arrived to talk about the Sabah polls, set to take place on Nov 29. I think the discussion would have been supercharged, however, had caretaker state Finance minister and GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjum been a part of the roundtable. Logistical challenges in coordinating schedules hindered the attendance of Masidi, a Dusun both in heart and mind.
The reason I began by asking why we were all there is because these three prominent local parties – PBS, Sabah STAR, and Upko – are currently in “bergigit” mode (Sabah slang for fighting) across many constituencies. This situation creates the possibility that the parties will cancel out each other’s votes, thereby allowing the enemy to sisip (a Sabah term meaning to slip through and win).
I posed the question first to Pairin (as Joseph is popularly known), and the former Sabah chief minister and PBS founder replied: “Actually, I want to ask you why we are gathered here. Given the atmosphere now, I feel Sabahans need to meet more often to strengthen ties. When we get moments like this, I’m truly happy.”
Dompok, who was once a top PBS leader and formed Upko (then Parti Demokratik Sabah) in 1994 remarked: “I’ll be honest. I feel that I’m here in this room because there’s a very important election that’s about to take off.
“It has brought up very important issues related to the formation of Malaysia and how we can contribute towards making this nation the great nation our founding fathers wanted, and I think the time for soul‑searching has come,” added the former federal minister.
Jeffrey, who is caretaker deputy Sabah chief minister I, contended: “I think we are here to understand what is happening outside. Many people are confused.
“Actually, it’s simple. This is the people’s choice. The people will decide in their own way; this is democracy. We sit here because we are united in facing challenges. Our struggle is one: to claim our rights and develop Sabah. Justice for Sabah, Sabah for Sabahans, Sabah First,” said the Keningau MP and the former Tambunan assemblyman who is defending his seat.
Gunsalam, caretaker deputy Sabah chief minister II, said: “I feel very privileged. We have two former chief ministers of Sabah and one chief justice. Now we also have the presidents of political parties here, Upko, STAR, and myself as acting president of PBS.
“This is an open forum, and it’s good for us to meet. We are all leaders of the community. We need to discuss the overall direction,” said the former Kundasang assemblyman who is defending his seat.
“So your suggestion is we vote for STAR, PBS or Upko?” I asked, to grins all around.
“Any one of them as long as it’s these three,” Jeffrey said.
Malajum said, “I am the only non‑politician here. To me, this is a historic event. I hope they speak on our behalf. We must safeguard and leave a legacy for the younger generation.”
Benedick had recently resigned his post as Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development minister because he could not remain in the Cabinet while the federal government appeared to be challenging the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s decision in favour of Sabah’s constitutional right to receive a 40% share of federal revenue derived from the state.
“With full respect and humility, I’m proud and excited to sit with Sabah’s leaders at the same table today. Even during an election campaign, we can still sit together – this is a blessing. Our competition in the election should not overshadow our main goal,” said the Penampang MP and former Kadamaian assemblyman who is defending his seat.
“Sabah First. Sabah for Sabahans. Justice for Sabah. That is why I agree with Dr Jeffrey that the people of Sabah should vote for Upko if they feel that Upko is better and can lead. But if the people of Sabah think that PBS can lead Sabah better, then pick the candidate from PBS.”
Benedick continued: “If we feel that STAR should be raised up to be the leader in that area, give support to STAR. In the end, the competition among us should not drown our main objective. Hopefully, Sabahans give their blessings to whichever leaders are sitting at this roundtable.”
Gunsalam said he agreed with Benedick: May the best party win in the respective seats. He added that the target of this election is to form a government.
“We have to form one that will do a great job for Sabah. We must choose a government which has a formula that will work for five years, as GRS has been doing. PBS says it will follow GRS, as there is a formula and we have success stories implemented by the GRS government, including Upko, which was with the government at that time. But when it came to the election, you all chose to go independently, including STAR.”
The acting PBS president was referring to Upko’s decision to withdraw from the Madani government after Benedick quit as a federal minister, with his party abandoning Pakatan Harapan days before Nov 15, nomination day, and to Jeffrey’s STAR quitting the GRS coalition days before the dissolution of the Sabah state assembly on Oct 6.
That was the discussion in the first 10 minutes of the roundtable. It was in first gear. As we entered the 30th minute, the participants, warmed up by that point, shifted into fourth gear.
The discussion ended with Joseph providing a cutting analogy: “In medical terms, if the body is sick, and when you analyse the sickness, you have to give medication. If there is a need to surgically remove a part, you remove it.”
A summary of the roughly 60-minute discussion would go something like this: The three wise men (Dompok, Joseph, and Malanjum) and the three party presidents (Benedick, Gunsalam, and Jeffrey) agreed that, even though the three parties are contesting against each other for some seats in the polls, all of them are united in fighting for Sabah’s rights.
Ultimately, the question “Why are we here?” was not for the six men to answer, but for Sabah voters to contemplate. It is the voters who must now carry the responsibility for strategic unity, hoping their choice doesn’t allow the enemy to sisip.- Star

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