steadyaku47

Thursday 29 October 2009

Sabah And Anwar...and never the twain shall meet?


If Keadilan is to remain relevant in Sabah and Sarawak it has to transcend tribalism, warlordism, and religious bigotry. The appointment of Baru Bian as the new Sarawak Chief is a step in this direction. Baru is a devout Christian and an Orang Ulu. He is not from the majority Iban or Bidayah tribe. Lest we forget, the decades of Melanau rule has only benefited the select few and not the vast majority.

But PKR will need to refocus its energy in Sabah. Here PKR will need to learn to work as a Team and allow new faces to emerge and to help rejuvenate PKR in Sabah with support from Semenanjong.  All within PKR must not forget that their loyalty is to the struggle. They must learn to accept that without the ability to be more inclusive, attract younger leaders, professionals: PKR will remain a lethargic, elite club surrounded by sycophants boosting Anwar’s and the personal ego of others within the PKR leadership elite!  (With due respect to Anwar!) We do not want PKR, to become complacent and become convinced that they are invincible or indispensable – notwithstanding the fact that they have continued to lose miserably in every election in Sabah.

There are now concerns expressed with regards to the imminent danger of losing the Kadazan-Dusun heartland in Sabah. Is PKR addressing these issues? PKR must not delude themselves that most of the Sabah divisions - Muslim Bugis, Bajau or Suluk; Christian Kadazan or Chinese still remains weak. Many capable Muslim and Christian leaders are marginalized because they are more assertive and refuse to function under the warlords.

I hope that PKR’s so called champion of freedom and democracy are not oblivious to the stark realities in Sabah. PKR must train its members to appreciate the need to struggle for reform, for freedom and against corruption! Do not perpetuate the "frog" culture and always condemn corruption! UMNO tolerates corruption by indigenous Bugis and Kadazan leaders. Sabah has seen enough corrupt Muslim and Christian leaders. PKR must be different.

Lately all of a sudden PKR’s leadership has been criticized as being undemocratic. It would seem that they want us to believe that these changes in Sabah PKR’s leadership structure were deem to be “what Anwar ordered!” and this interference from Semenanjong was ‘confirmed’ by the selective leak of information publicizing two memos. First by 18 divisional leaders and later by 14 proposing vice president Jeffry.  What was inadvertently concealed was the fact that letters were submitted to the President by 14 divisional leaders (excluding Thamrin) naming Thamrin as their choice. Well, invariably many divisional leaders signed twice. Welcome to "real politics"!

Jeffrey’s resignation as VP and Christina resignation as Supreme Council member is supported by the majority. PKR members and supporters and fence sitters are actually in celebration mood. It is hard to understand that these two to remain as ordinary members and ‘cabang’ chiefs. I believe Anwar ‘read’ the situation in Sabah well and made the right decision

With due respects, its extremely odd to assume that any leadership change must be construed as an insult or embarrassment to those not chosen. What about the changes in Sarawak, the removal of Selangor MB in Wilayah, MP Dato Zahrain in Penang or MP Aziz from Kelantan? Are they all incompetent? No..These are all part and parcel of positive change within PKR to ensure relevance and inject dynamism and a positive attitude within PKR.

Change is a constant that we must accept.
During the trying times when Anwar was incarcerated not many were brave enough to declare that they were in opposition against the might and oppression perpetuated by BN. While Anwar was in prison he could only be a symbol to PKR and yet despite not knowing many of those within PKR then, Anwar was still their leader. Now at the time when PKR is not only accepted but supported PKR have need to expand and develop further.   I am sure that PKR are appreciative of the efforts put in by Christian Liew in her 9 years of service to promote PKR in Sabah – but as I have said earlier, PKR will need to make some difficult decisions in its effort to make PKR relevant in Sabah. There is no humiliation or shame in accepting change when change is needed.

But there is still much work to be done – in Sabah, Sarawak and Semenanjong. PKR will have to prove by deeds and design that they are up to the task that we expect of them and of Pakatan Rakyat. 

8 comments:

  1. I have always maintained that for Pakatan to take over, we must be able to answer the question of Sabah and Sarawak.

    Without these 2, i would stake down as impossible to win at the Federal level.

    As for whats happening, theres always egos to manage. I am on the side that is better to have Jeffry and Christina on board than not. But if theres no salvation for them, then PKR and all of us should close ranks and move on.

    Theres no point in moaning. the only real winner in this whole mess is UMNO.

    Which is our main enemy! Our enemy is not PAS or Jeffry Kittingan or even Anwar. Its UMNO!


    UMNO - Our enemy, dulu, kini dan selamanya! Remember!!!!


    sunwayopal
    http://www.myrealestate.com.my

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  2. Pak HH,

    Didn't I tell you last nite before you retired to take the East Malaysia factor into your dream? I am glad at least sunwayopal came up with that same concern. We all know how the balance of power can be impacted by the factor should BN lost the votes of Sabahans and Sarawakians in the last election.

    Pakatan should have worked towards that goal instead of struggling and fighting in establishing a 'firm base' to win over the East Malaysians to its side.

    Of course we are hardcore supporters of Pakatan no matter what, but then Pakatan must make itself one Hard Core force to be reckoned with in East Malaysia.

    I don't know if Pakatan really understand the meaning of 'pakatan' for all we see Pakatan is not serious with its namesake and keep making the fool out of themselves.

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  3. FMZam - after what you told me last night ...what makes you think I went to sleep? You think I write articles in my sleep? Just go and count how many articles I posted on Sabah this morning! Aiyah I hope you don't bring up any more new topic...like the current political situation in Botswana! Mampus aku kena gi library cari information!

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  4. pak HH,

    I knew you lied to me when you said you wanna sleep, at this age a 'thinking animal' like you need sleep only when your brain is dead.

    Yes Pak, within 5 hours I left my computer off the hook, when I opened it I found that I was overtaken by events with your 'faster than bullet' postings. The blog was inundated.

    Now I have to swim back to the port I hope I can catch up with your boat....

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  5. That's just to show you know nuts about the situation in Sabah.

    With Jeffrey and Christina out of the picture, PKR is as good as exist in name only.

    You just watch.

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  6. PKR should emulate DAP in Sabah & Sarawak viz appoint locals there as chieftains.
    DAP is the most stablise Party in PR.
    PRK should NOT encroach on DAP's TraditionalLY contested seats in Sabah & Sarawak viz urban seats. But alas in these two states as well as in W Msia, PKR Chinese & Indian factions are encroaching into tradiional DAP tradiional urban consituencies. There will surely be friction and I don't know how long DAP can accept it.
    PKR should be BRAVE enough to win over the Bumis in Sabah & Sarawak by focusing on rural constituencies and pls leave the city/towns to DAP.

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  7. Good riddance to Jeffry Kitingan & friends! J.Kitingan is looking only after his self interest. Sabah is better without this so-called leader of the people! Good bye Jeffry Kitingan!!

    Org Sabah

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