Sabah’s governor doesn’t have to be Muslim, says analyst
“It is good politics, as well as making sure everyone is included in the mosaic that is Sabah and Sarawak. If we play the racial or religious political game, we will end up like Malaya, politically.
(FMT) – Sabah’s governor does not need to be a Muslim, as there is no religious requirement for the post, says an analyst.
Citing the ongoing debate surrounding the post, James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute described pushback to the appointment of Joseph Pairin Kitingan because he was not Muslim as “complete rubbish”.
“In practice, the only legal requirement is that the person must be nominated by the state government, (that is) Sabah’s chief minister. It then goes up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Chin said.
Historically, he said, there had been discussions to share the posts of chief minister and state governor, which in Sabah’s context meant a Muslim and non-Muslim native, but this had not been codified into any legal document.
“Sabah’s first chief minister was Donald Aloysius Stephens. At the time of his appointment, he was Christian, while Sabah’s first governor was Mustapha Harun (a Muslim). Thus, the balance,” he said.
The same, he said, applied to Sarawak where the discussion was that if a Dayak became chief minister, the governor would come from another ethnic group.
“Thus, Stephen Kalong Ningkan became the first chief minister, (while) the first governor was Tun Abang Haji Openg”, he said, adding that “like most political agreements, it was not codified into law”.
Chin said the idea that Islam must dominate the political and administrative posts in East Malaysia was a direct result of Malaya pushing the “Ketuanan Melayu” ideology, to incorporate Sabah and Sarawak into their political system.
“I support the nomination of Pairin to be governor because I think it’s crucially important that the Borneo states reinforce their multiracial approach to politics,” he said.
He said that dividing the posts of governor, the top ceremonial post, and chief minister, the top political post, among various political communities was a powerful symbol of working against the Malayan racial and religious political model.
“It is good politics, as well as making sure everyone is included in the mosaic that is Sabah and Sarawak. If we play the racial or religious political game, we will end up like Malaya, politically.
“In summary, the selection of a governor is a 110% political choice,” he said.
