Jeffrey stokes excitement with Malaysia Borneo
Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is teasing Sabahans with the idea of a Malaysia Borneo with Sabah and Sarawak having its own ‘states’ equal to those in Peninsular Malaysia
(Free Malaysia Today) – KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is in a state of excitement over the possibility of Sabah and Sarawak forming its own Malaysia Borneo nation complete with five and seven states respectively.
United Borneo Alliance (UBA) chairman Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who is championing the proposal, admits its a ‘novel idea’ and that he may be seen as being too far ahead in his thinking.
“But I believe it will work. The idea needs to be introduced now. This is long overdue by almost half a century.
“I believe this will be a powerful turning point in the political paradigm of Sabah.
“But we have to deal with it (the idea) head on. If not now, when?”
Jeffrey said he has been discussing the matter with his State Reform Party (STAR) leaders in Sarawak who are also equally excited by the idea.
“Did you know that there is already a website called ‘Negara Sarawak’?.
“We are now thinking about creating five states in Sabah and seven states in Sarawak.
“That totals 12 states for the Malaysian Borneo, compared to eleven Malayan states!” he added.
‘We were an independent nation’
Jeffrey said it is high time that the idea of making Sabah a nation again is discussed, as a daring step towards regaining Sabah’s position which it had when it gained its independence from Britain on August 31, 1963.
“We were an independent country, a full-fledged nation. When we joined with Singapore, Malaya and Sarawak to form Malaysia we were still a nation. Unfortunately we eventually became one of the 13 unitary states in the federation.”
“Don’t forget that even our governor, the Tuan Yang Tertutama, was called ‘Yang diPertua Negara,’ which is also stated in the 20 Points.
“This alone proves Sabah was a ‘negara’, a nation,” he said.
