Dayak Activist Sabah Has Shown The Light Borneo States Not Playground For Peninsula Politics

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THERE has been much analysis, hand-wringing and finger-pointing in the aftermath of the Sabah state elections, which took place on Nov 29.
Depending on one’s political perspective, the results either came as a shock or were a long time coming.
Some political observers have claimed that the outcome is a clear indicator to Putrajaya that the people of Borneo are rejecting what has been termed as “Peninsula politics” and locals are fed-up at being perceived as a mere afterthought and who are only there to be courted just prior to elections.
One such commentor is Peter John Jaban, an outspoken activist on issues relating to Sabah and Sarawak. The former broadcaster and journalist labelled the Sabah poll results was more than just a defeat, it was “a direct political rebuke from Sabahans.”
Peter John Jaban“The ‘Sabah First’, ‘Justice for Sabah’, ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ and ‘TOLAK PARTY MALAYA’ trend is growing stronger. The people are choosing local parties that truly represent their identity, interests, and needs. PH has failed to adapt and has proven irrelevant in Sabah.
“In Sarawak, Dayak voters and indigenous communities have long rejected PKR due to their failure to address local concerns.
“Election results clearly show that Peninsular-centered political approaches are not accepted in Borneo States,” argued the proponent of Dayak rights.
Focusing on the DAP’s wipeout, the former disc jockey opined in a letter to the editor that “Sabah voters, particularly urban Chinese and local communities, rejected PH because:
Promises of local development were unfulfilled,PH failed to understand Sabah’s realitiesNational agendas were prioritized over local voices.“PH risks losing more marginal seats in Sarawak if it continues to ignore local voices.”
Picking on a popular bone of contention was the perceived misuse and abuse of the Borneo states’ natural resources, the aboriginal rights activist further contended that:
“The constitutional rights and resource control must be respected because Sabah and Sarawak have rights to autonomy, natural resources, and special status under MA63(*). These rights are not gifts from Putrajaya, nor discretionary favors they must be respected.
“Management of oil, gas, and other natural resources must prioritize the people of the states, not the political interests of the federal government. Any attempt to undermine these rights will trigger organised political resistance,” he ominously warned.
(* Editor’s note – MA63 refers to the Malaysia Agreement (MA63), a foundational treaty from 1963 which created the nation by uniting Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore with the Federation of Malaya)
It was also passionately argued that Sabah and Sarawak are no longer peripheral regions that can be treated as political testing grounds.
“Local voters will no longer accept rhetoric, empty promises, or populist Peninsular-centered politics,” declared the seasoned observer of Borneo politics.
“As an activist defending Sabah and Sarawak rights, I urge Putrajaya to respect the decisions of the people and the autonomy of the states and return the rights of Sabah and Sarawak that remain unfulfilled. Stop marginalising Borneo states for national political gain,” implored the Kuching-born radio host.
Politics, in particular those relating to the Borneo states, is a highly complex and fluid beast. But it does seem that the most recent Sabah polls have indicated a paradigm shift among the electorate.
Will it shake Putrajaya out of its stupor and instigate a reaction, or will it be the same old tried and tested tactics of yore?
As Jaban has intimated, the mood on the ground is shifting. Will the federal government learn to adjust accordingly or is it risk losing more than just seats in an election? Time will tell. ‒   Focus Malaysia

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