Sept 16 Part VI

This year's Malaysia Day + Merdeka Day Celebration is notable not just because of the promise of sweeping reform declared by the PM in his annual speech, but as well as how muted it was in recent years, whether it's because of the economic downturn or a matter of general apathy. It's high time to re-examine Borneo's position within the federation...








SEPT 16 PART VI                                 
Which way to freedom -- SSKM!
http://knightadventure.blogspot.com/2011/09/sept-16-part-vi.html
By The Four Horsemen


Somewhere in Borneo Island, in the cyber realm away from the grasp of Malaysian's crude reality, ray of hope is beckoning, and, it is soothing a 4000-strong restless crowd. That has been the feeling in here lately since August 9 this year. Today, there are written words on the wall -- a message, words of encouragement, a prophecy. Words that speak of freedom.

The words say: "There will come a day, ladies and gentlemen, when higher caliber people will come to this place. Their talk can relate to the majority in here, and they can actually walk the talk, given their position in the streets or in the parliament. They can be the key players who will take our dream to greater height, much higher than what we have achieved so far."

"When that day come we must make room for them so greater good can come out of it. When these promising leaders grace our place here, and after they pledged undivided commitment to our course, we must listen to them from that day on. By then, this SabahSarawak cruise should be ready for full steam ahead, firing on all cylinders."

"Until then, until that day come, guess you guys must listen to us Admins. We're preparing this platform for the real leaders. So please observe the rules and regulations we have stated, mind your language, and have a sense of responsibility. And please don't bring your political leaning onboard as that will create divisions among ourself. The only bad guys here is 'Malaya Government', so aim your arrows in their direction."

Where is this place?

We'll tell you about it later.








Meanwhile in a blog...







(Rephrased for easier reading)

48 years since 1963                                    
http://lizardboi88.blogspot.com/2011/09/48-years-since-1963.html
By LiZaRdboi_88 from Kuching, Sarawak





"Selamat Menyambut Ulangtahun Pembentukan Persekutuan Malaysia yang ke-48: Marilah kita menghayati semula erti persaudaraan demi kesejahteraan dan kemakmuran sejagat."


Enough with the pleasantries and self-congratulatory fist-pump. Let's us take step back and observe everything that's happening in our recent reality.

The meaning of the word "history" has taken a rather contentious angle for last few weeks ranging from Mat Sabu (PAS Veep)-is-a-Commie-bastard controversy (complete with former servicemen and NGOs and BN government jumping at him for glorifying the Commies in Bukit Kepong incident while PR peeps going all out denial saying that the media has misconstrued his speech and what not).

Fact: The commies does play a part in fighting colonialist whether it's the Japs or the Brits. The thing that's wrong with them: armed struggle, sabotage and guerrilla war. Their initial goal/motivation is right but their execution is wrong and just by that, the history has cast them as evil.

The notion postulated by certain historian that the Malay States -- those with their own monarch -- have been "independent" (emphasis on the loose meaning of independence) for the past few centuries because they were not abolished by the successive colonialist government. Apparently simply existing can be deemed as independent or tidak pernah ditakluk while everything else such as administration and economic development is all under British Colonial Office. Oh, remember Malacca Sultanate when the Portuguese galleon came? The meaning of "independence" might be a bit of stretch when one is a protectorate.

And to think while all these reinterpretation of history and what not rages on over mainstream media, in particular Peninsularites, the year 2011 is only the second year September 16 has given its due recognition as Malaysia Day on federal level as a mandated public holiday.

And this first time the bigger celebration falls on September 16 instead of the usual 31 August. Whether it's just mere convenience since 31 August 2011 falls on 2nd day of Raya or an actual move to redress the 47 years of discontent of Malaysian Bornean.

This year's Malaysia Day + Merdeka Day Celebration is notable not just because of the promise of sweeping reform declared by the PM in his annual speech -- which includes repealing ISA and replace it with two new laws that it's more relevant to present situation. He can promise as much as he wants though but he still need to go through the Home Ministry and the MPs in the parliament --, but as well as how muted it was in recent years whether it's because of the economic downturn or a matter of general apathy.

Behind all the flag-waving and pomps however, there's one question that has been lingering in certain section of Sabahan and Sarawakian's mind for the longest time:


"After 48 years, has Sabah and Sarawak got themselves a fair deal in the formation of Malaysia?"


On first glance, it seems like Sabah and Sarawak get themselves a fair deal from the formation of Malaysia. The 20/18 Points Agreement has laid a ground work for the formation of Malaysia under the basis of asymmetric federalism with certain exclusive rights reserved to Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore -- the original parties of the negotiations in the formation of Malaysia --, when compared to the equal entities within Federation of Malaya.

In other word, the Malaysia Agreement is reached by four parties of equal standing, namely Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. Some of the vestiges of Malaysia Agreement still remain til this day: Malaysian citizen outside of Sabah and Sarawak still have to go through immigration checkpoint at major entry point such as airport in Sabah and Sarawak, they can only remain in Sabah and Sarawak for three months and anything longer -- such as for students and private sector employee; not sure about civil servants in federal department and agencies though -- have to obtain a permit or risk expulsion.

All this hurdles for other citizen of Malaysia while there's no such limitation for Malaysian Bornean when we are at Peninsula or Malaya, as we called it. Sabahan and Sarawakian executive are known as cabinet and their title are termed Ministers instead of SUKN for the states over Malaya. Sabahan and Sarawakian have more remits of power in the state list.

All these provisions are embodied in the Constitution of Malaysia 1963 so Sabahan and Sarawakian should feel all well and merry, right?

On the contrary, things turned sour almost immediately after 1963.

Singapore was unceremoniously ejected from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 after protracted political conflict; Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the first CM of Sarawak was unceremoniously removed by the Governor due to motion of no-confidence in which the federal government immediately declared emergency in 1966; May 13 Incident over Malaya which saw the government declaring state of emergency immediately after a hotly contested 1969 GE and; last but not least Double Six Tragedy which saw the top leaders of Sabah dies in one place crash of dubious circumstances and tenuous time.

Tenuous time indeed in 1974 because that's the year Petroleum Development Act of 1974 were enacted which saw Sabah and Sarawak -- and Terengganu --, to cede all petroleum exploration and production right to the Federal Government in exchange of measly 5% royalty from the petroleum production.

Meanwhile, the constitution has been amended in such frequency which saw the special provisions to Sabah and Sarawak has been stripped bit by bit until the vastly watered down version that we are in today.

All those initial fanfare about our new found sovereignty within Federation of Malaysia has been quickly overshadowed by conflicts and subjugation. After all, Sabah and Sarawak were included in the grand scheme of thing because of the post-war international geopolitics narrative of decolonisation with a tinge of red i.e. Cold War and Iron Curtain which only the end of it in 1990 (for Sarawak).

In fact, the formation of Malaysia as mooted by Tunku carries a racialist undertone -- go check your Form 4/5 Sejarah textbook. It's explicitly said so -- as well that is to even up the ratio between Malay and the migrants population in Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore by incorporating the concept of Bumiputera to indigenous population in Sabah and Sarawak without much consideration of the diversity and complicity of the concept of race over Malaysian Bornean side which causes much grievance as time moves along. Was Malaysia a shattered dream and broken promises for Sabah and Sarawak? It's all history now I supposed.

Anyone who knows me personally enough to talk about serious topic such as politics and ideology will know that I am a Regionalist-Sovereigntist -- for the purpose of discussion, it will mostly centered on Sarawak but it's applicable to Sabah too but maybe with different context/example --, and I believe there's a latent undercurrent, though not that mainstream yet, among the people of Sarawak.

There are various justification held by Sarawakian regionalist whether it's because geography -- South China Sea --, of divergent history, the plurality of the people that's incompatible with the federal racialist relation narrative (the so-called Malay Chinese Indian), the encroachment of our sovereignty as promised in the 18/20 Points Agreement, the vast disparity in distribution of wealth -- with the 5% Petroleum royalty taking center stage --, the resentment toward the perceived arrogance of the Westies or a combination of everything.

As much as I hope that my Fair Land Sarawak will achieve its sovereignty within my lifetime and the right of self-determination is definitely recognised within UN Charter, it seems that secession from one nation to form own sovereign nation especially in peace time today is unfortunately remote. (Case in point: The newest sovereign nation on earth, South Sudan achieved its independence this year by seceding from Sudan ONLY after protracted civil wars which causes millions of death and millions more as refugees and total deterioration of security and infrastructure.).

Do note however that even though armed struggle is definitely ONE of the possible path one could take, it's by doubt the costliest and dangerous way with high risk of failure. Diplomacy exist in international geopolitic to ensure agreement through negotiation thus achieving constructive and certain outcome which benefits all. Thus, any movement to improve sovereignty in Sarawak has to be done by diplomacy and diplomacy alone.

Another issue worthy of concern for me is that there are people within regionalist side that has taken a fairly dim, parochial view that every single woes that Sarawakian is facing right now has to be blamed on Westies, especially federal Barisan Nasional though same sentiment exist for federal Pakatan Rakyat too, while fact remains throughout the history of Sarawak in Malaysia, it is our own local political leaders -- the most prominent one included -- that repeatedly sold us out to the federal government by colluding with their western counterpart in order to protect their own personal interest.

The continuous collusion is evident in both sides of the political fold with Sarawak Barisan Nasional remains mum on various grievance despite the fact that all parties in Sarawak BN is organizationally independent and local all in the name of "solidarity of BN" while Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat is still organizationally disparate and incoherent with perpetual string-tugging from their respective federal puppetmeisters.

Both BN and PR seems to be comfortable with the currently diminishing arrangement and didn't pursue the issue of sovereignty rigorously and thoroughly enough. Instead, they spent most of their time engaging in mud-slinging, name calling, shouting and lawsuits which does nothing except driving people away from engaging healthily in politic. In fact, I would say it frankly that both BN and PR are colluding with each other too, thriving in the technical irregularities of first past the post voting system to ensure that it will be them and only them that remain in the political arena and any parties, including any possible party to advocate exclusively on our sovereignty, will be pushed to the margin and doomed of irrelevance.

Going back to the point of "blame west" mentalities, we would still have to deal with them Westies even after we actually achieve independence -- if we ever actually did in the far future -- simply because we were partner before and within the same region of geopolitics.

There are hundreds and thousands of our brethren over Peninsula and theirs over our side not to mention asset, pending debts and wealth redistribution between both sides, especially the petroleum now that Petronas is holding various Petroleum reserves. Any breakdown of negotiation between our government and the federal government might not be helpful in ensuring peaceful transfer of sovereignty.

Remember, we judged them as much as they judged us and only a healthy, proactive and constructive engagement -- but of course has to be more rigourous than what we had now -- between the state government and federal government can ensure the right of our people to be maintained.

In pursuit of petroleum royalty issues, we will have to work with Terengganu, one of the party in the original PDA in order to form a coherent stand with regards to petroleum royalty negotiation or risk of being considered as selfish.

Furthermore with regards of reaffirming or even expanding the remits of power within the state list and shared list of power, we will have to deal with every other state government within the federation with the only goal deemed reasonable -- for us and for them -- is when every states in the federation have their remits of power expanded to form a looser, decentralised federation. Federal-State relation will be tense as evident by the failure of Charlottetown Accord in Canada with regards to their provincial-federal government relation. By the way, Quebec Sovereignty Movement one of the major inspiration for me and even then, Quebec is still in Canada. Spanish model specifically for Catalonia and Basque Community too is a good example.

Last but not least, any prospective sovereignty movement in Sarawak should avoid taking an overt racialist focus. I believe we can clearly see how incompatible the racialist-nationalist narrative of Malaysia for the diversity of Sarawak and definitely there's no need to for us to use the exact same racialist undertone when we strive for our own independence. In order to be relevant, any prospective sovereignty movement should be able to reach as much base support as possible regardless of urban/rural divide or education level. Most importantly of all, any ideals carried by the prospective sovereignty movement has be to be able to resonated among masses and any racialist undertone will undermine our cause and could be thrown into further jeopardy by being cast as ethnocentric by any section opposing our sovereignty movement.

Overall, my assessment might sound pessimistic on first glance but I believe these are the issues that are pertinent to any prospective sovereignty movement in Sarawak -- by extension, Sabah too -- that has to be answered before we can see our movement as relevant to the our people's interest. Not all hope is lost though as I believe there are rooms for discussion and expansion of sovereignty within the mainstream political narrative in Malaysia.

The thing that we should think of right now is how to push the Sovereignty Question into the limelight and touched the latent desire of sovereignty within our psyche to become more active in pursuit.

Perhaps we can start from pressing our local MPs and ADUNs more rigorously about the sovereignty questions and actions that should be taken to redress any injustice that we experienced for the past 48 years. Perhaps we can remind them about their current balance in power for effective collective bargaining. Get yourself registered as a voter -- Do it at POST OFFICE. Just bring your IC -- and make your decision through the ballot box. Actively engage in healthy debate while equipping self with more knowledge to ensure the clarity and certainty of our movement.

We might not achieve the ultimate goal of independence in next two years (50 years for Malaysia) and probably not even within next 20 to 50 years but at least we've to make the possibility of our own sovereign nation more CERTAIN instead being a remote pipe dream.

Encroachment of our sovereignty should no go further and any changes should be moving outward, towards greater sovereignty within Malaysia before we can actually reach the ultimate goal. It's a high time to reexamine our position within the federation, put the sovereignty question in centerfold and from there, resolve whatever issues raised with matured, constructive diplomacy. Passion sparks and burns but only pragmatism, a value that tend to be underrated in emotionally charge world today, can bring us to achieve our goal continuously, persistently, constructively and meaningfully.

I believe Sarawak can do it, I believe Malaysia can do it too.

* * *

The basic of Sarawak Original Constitution 1941 as suggested by Rajah CV Brooke.

1. That Sarawak is the heritage of Our Subjects and is held in trust by Ourselves for them.
2. That social and education services shall be developed and improved and the standard of living of the people of Sarawak shall steadily be raised.
3. That never shall any person or persons be granted rights inconsistent with those of the people of this country or be in any way permitted to exploit Our Subjects or those who have sought Our protection and care.
4. That justice shall be freely obtainable and that the Rajah and every public servant shall be easily accessible to the public.
5. That freedom of expression both in speech and in writing shall be permitted and encouraged and that everyone shall be entitled to worship as he pleases.
6. That public servants shall ever remember that they are but the servants of the people on whose goodwill and co-operation they are entirely dependent.
7. That so far as may be Our Subjects of whatever race or creed shall be freely and impartially admitted to offices in Our Service, the duties of which they may be qualified by their education, ability and integrity duly to discharge.
8. That the goal of self-government shall always be kept in mind, that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the governance of themselves, and that continuous efforts shall be made to hasten the reaching of this goal by educating them in the obligations, the responsibilities, and the privileges of citizenship.
9. That the general policy of Our predecessors and Ourselves whereby the various races of the State have been enabled to live in happiness and harmony together shall be adhered to by Our successors and Our servants and all who may follow them hereafter.

Sabah dan Sarawak Keluar Malaysia    


A Facebook group. The intro. SALAM BORNEO. Sabah and Sarawak has been governed under the current Administration since 1963. That was the year Malaysia was born and sadly, that was a new beginning of political slavery that took place in these two promising lands. Sabah and Sarawak were seen and mentioned by the current Administration as their 'fixed deposits' which they gain in terms of political "interest" during Election time. They have taken the natives, people and produce for granted. We are here to provide a platform for anyone who wishes to share and provide timely information on why Sabah and Sarawak should have its Independence. Sabah and Sarawak inclusion into Malaya in 1963 was achieved through the art of trickery. By right, these two States were not for anyone to give it to Malaya. Let us criticize or suggest constructively on how and why these two deserving States should have its own Government.

Meanwhile, people are talking...


LESLLEY: I'm in the mid of drafting a Speech of Declaration of Independence of United State of Borneo. Just in case, just in case we're finally pull out from Malaysia and became and Independent Sovereign Country.


DARTH: United States of Borneo sebab ada tiga states -- Sabah Sarawak and Brunei.


LESLLEY: ‎Brunei is out of the picture. There is no way that they're going to join us.


PATAU: Or Total Colonization of Sarawak by the West? Where were we? Thought all young 'Turks' who are the anti-BN wants PR of DAP, PAS and PKR only without STAR or SNAP, as Sarawak is too small and poor that it does not matter if there is total domination by KL. It is better to die fighting for Independence than to be colonized again and again, is it Leslley?


LESLLEY: Dr Patau Rubis, yes, it is better to die fighting for Independence than to be COLONIZED again and again but words are cheap, do we have the resources/strenghts to fight? Let us be realistic, we know who is behind Xanana Gusmao Rebels in Timor Leste, we know what happen in South Sudan, we know what happen in Irian Jaya/Papua New Gunie before, there would always a third party/force behind this separitist movement and my question is, who is interested to fund our separatist movement to free and liberate Sabah/Sarawak from Malaya?


BOND: Dr Patau Rubis, glad to see you're here finally. Thank you. Please continue, we'd like to hear more ideas from you.


LESLLEY: ‎Bond, maybe his Party STAR can accomodate our agenda? (Wink, wink)


BOND: Of course, Leslley, as long as STAR and SSKM are firing arrows in the same direction... that's 'Strategic alliance'.


(During discussion yesterday in SSKM:)

MOSSES: If I'm not mistaken, United Borneo Front (UBF) is one of the Political organisation that fighting for this Sabah and Sarawak's rights. Then we should support them. Any comment about it?

SUZE: Not in here, Mosses Paul.

BOND: Not in here. Not in the sense that we will affiliate SSKM with UBF. But we support UBF's goals. Doris and I have proposed a 'Strategic alliance'... and Kitingan has agreed to that. SSKM and UBF don't ride in the same bus, but we're going in the same direction. *Strategic Alliance: Agreement for cooperation among two or more independent firms to work together toward common objectives. Unlike in a joint venture, firms in a strategic alliance do not form a new entity to further their aims but collaborate while remaining apart and distinct.

(Back to present)


ROBERT: Leslley, tools are just tools, it's the human ware that matters, and we are the human ware, it's what brought Libya, Egypt down, it's not the weapon, it's the person behind the weapon, are we ready or up to it? Or are we contented to be fed just crumbs? That is the question.


LESLLEY: ‎Robert, I agree with you so what are we waiting for? Should we pick up the guns and fight?


ROBERT: What we're doing is the starting, Mr.Le, we're the grass roots of tomorrow freedoms. For now we're making good progress, if we can do it without going to war why not? The war will come from them they are the one that will fire the first round and spill the first blood.


BOND: (Chuckles) I think we better keep our voice down. Already we're talking about war and fire and arrows and blood we're scaring them girls.


LESLLEY: ‎Robert, I have a Political Solutions for this and i've share it here before. Maybe you missed it out. Bond, perhaps Patau Rubis should share STAR agenda with us? Nah! ISA? (Laughing) Ok, I'm a bit emotional today as the idea of separation is very dear to my heart.


ROBERT: If we're going in the right direction, Malaya will have to stop us, and somebody will be the first 'lamb'.


LESLLEY: ‎Robert, here's my proposal for the solution: We cant secede from Malaysia but we can be KICKED OUT from Malaysia like what Tunku Abd Rahman did to Singapore in 1965. Do you think that UMNO Malaya stupid enough to KICK US OUT from Malaysia? In 10 years time without Oil&Gas resources from Sabah and Sarawak, Malaya would be a BANKRUPT NATION!!!.

But politically, we CAN do that. We can BE kicked out from Malaysia. How? It would not be that easy, but it is not IMPOSSIBLE, it is just near IMPOSSIBLE. This is how we can do it:

1. Set up a Borneo Based Political Party.

2. Gain control of Borneo states namely Sabah and Sarawak through electoral proceess.

3. Persuade the Federal Government to Re-Look back at the 20/18 Point Of Agreement.

4. If they refused to do so,organised a Statewide campaign,go to every corner of the States and convinced the Rakyat that we should pull out from Malaysia and try to get their absolute support.

5. Send a referandum to United Nation that we are UNHAPPY with the way the Federal Government treat us as(State-Federal Ties).

6. Request the United Nation to send a Delegation for a Fact Finding Mission similar to the Cobbold Commision before to get the feedback and consensus from the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.

But bear in mind,this will not happen without repercussion from the Federal Government and ISA is the answer of all this. Datuk Jeffry Kitingan was once being held under ISA and he has been accused of trying to pull out Sabah from Malaysia and is that TRUE? No, he merely request for the 5% Oil Royalty to be review. He and his brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan has been harrased and being charged with Corruption. This is the begining of the fall of PBS Government in Sabah and UMNO take over since then.


ROBERT: Yep, agreed, or, the same thing but the other way round: since only three country/state in Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak combined would make the majority in the three-part Malaysia. The two parts Malaysia should kick Malaya out of the federation. No?


BOND: (Laughing excitedly) Robert, that reminds me. If SabahSarawak show intent to kick Malaya out of Malaysia then the onus is on Malaya to say why they shouldn't be kicked out. Put them on the defensive instead. When they cannot give satisfactory answer -- highly likely they couldn't give good answer --, they will kick SabahSarawak out of Malaysia instead to shut us up. Yay!

Singapore 1965 did similar thing, didn't they? They minded Malaya's business, got on Malaya's nerves, spoke boldly about equality 'Malaysian Malaysia' in Dewan Rakyat. Singapore got the boot, but look at how happy the Singaporeans are today. "SabahSarawak Tendang Malaya Keluar Malaysia" -- How's that?


(Laughter)


LESLLEY: Exactly! Bond, exactly!


ROBERT: Every which way the end game is do away with Malaya, the rest is our own game without them. Yes, it's not gonnabe smooth and plain sailing for us but, "Fair wind and Following seas" anyway.


BOND: So that bring us to Point 5 and Point 6 in your proposal, Leslley. If we were to run a referendum gauging opinion of the Sabahans and Sarawakians I'm sure many, if not all, will want Malaya be kicked out of Malaysia. Funny way to look at it though but hey it's doable, don't you think?


LESLLEY: ‎Bond, yes, it is possible but as I put them in order no.5, no.6, we need to get through no.1,2,3 and 4 first which is through the democratic process as we need to show them that we have the NUMBERS and FIGURES to support our arguement on the very reason why we should pull out from Malaysia or kick Malaya out (chuckles).


BOND: Job no 1, 2, and 3... Jeffrey Kitingan and Patau Rubis can do it. Job no 4! That's what we're doing from here, everyday we keep on doing it from here, until the day when we do it from 'there'.


ROBERT: Set, let's play, get the ball rolling.

Source:
1. http://lizardboi88.blogspot.com/2011/09/48-years-since-1963.html
2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/107446139356428/





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