Sabah And Anwar…and never the twain shall meet?

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On Oct 30, 2009

By Steadyaku47

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.