DAP calls for a “land for landless” policy in Sabah, derived from the Batu Sumpah guarantee of land rights for Sabahans

This is the fifth Batu Sumpah replica to be raised in Sabah since the start of the Batu Sumpah movement five months ago. The first Batu Sumpah replice was in Inanam, second in Mempulut in Pensiangan, third a double mammoth Batu Sumpah in Moyog and the fourth in Kg Iban in Merotai last night.

The Batu Sumpah movement has brought about a quickening of the awareness among Sabahans about their basic rights, symblising the three basic issues which are fundamental to the formation of Malaysia 52 years ago in 1963 – firstly, freedom of religion and land rights and adat istiadat for native Sabahans.

This is taken place at a critical time in the history of Sabah and Malaysia.

For the first time in Sabah history, the voice and aspirations of the people of Sabah are being given more attention by Putrajaya than at any time in the state’s history.

This is because of the sudden realization that if not for Sabah and Sarawak, the Prime Minister today would have been Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Sabah and Sarawak were the saviours of not only the Barisan Nasional but Najib as the Prime Minister.

Never before have there been more Federal government appointees in the history of Sabah – from Cabinet Ministers to the Parliamentary Speaker and Deputy Speaker.Can

But it is the Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders who are the main beneficiaries of such Putrajaya “generosity” rather than the ordinary people of Sabah.

After 52 years, the number of Sabahans appointed as head of Federal departments in Sabah are only 20 to 30 per cent, when it should at least be 70 to 80 per cent after more than five decades of formation of Malaysia.

Is the Barisan Nasional prepared to set a time table for achieving the target of at least 75% of Sabahans heading Federal departments in Sabah in the next 12 months?

The three fundamental guarantees promised the people of Sabah in the Keningau Batu Sumpah should be inspiration for the formulation of policies for the people of Sabah.

For a start, let the Sabah State Government introduce a “land for landless” policy in Sabah arising from the Batu Sumpah guarantee of land rights to all native Sabahans.