Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh
described the conditions - including an international televised audience
among others - imposed by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan before agreeing to
debate on the issue of "Kuala Lumpur colonising Sabah" as his way of
chickening out.
"There is no legal standing needed, it is a normal open public debate
between two persons. It is the people who will make their own conclusion
after listening to both sides.
"There is no legal authority required for a debate, maybe not even
police permit. Therefore, Dr Jeffrey in demanding this and that is a
mockery of present day civilisation," said Harris in a statement,
Monday.
Dr Jeffrey had said that he (Harris) has no locus standi to debate with
him on the issue unless he was appointed by the Federal or State
government to do so.
Harris said the challenge thrown by Dr Jeffrey to Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Musa Aman for a public debate on the claim is a very serious
matter.
"Therefore, since it is unlikely that the State Government will get
involved, I offered myself, instead, to correct any wrong perception.
In the absence of correct and accurate information, which keeps the
public guessing with wrong facts, such wrong facts will lead to wrong
decisions.
"Over the years and more so recently, there were many allegations and
accusations against the Federal Government, including the issuance of
identity cards to the illegals.
"Nevertheless, the allegation made by Dr Jeffrey that Sabah is being
colonised is the turning point in the history of Sabah in the Federation
of Malaysia. This is a United Nation's case. If it is true," he said.
Harris said Sabah is part and parcel of Malaysia, hence it is also part and parcel of the Federal Government.
Sabah has 25 members of Parliament, three senators and has been allocated almost all the time three Federal Minister posts.
He said that based on the parliamentary democracy system, any decision
taken by the Federal Government is collective, and it also included the
participation of Sabah and Sabahans.
"Surely over these years if any action taken by the Federal Government
is contrary to the Constitution and laws made by Parliament, Sabah
representatives would have opposed and drawn the attention of the State
Government and Sabahans.
"However, all this while not a single Sabah representative in the
Federal Government has revealed anything that shows the Federal
Government is colonising Sabah.
"It has been over 40 years É everything looks normal and so far so
good," he said. But, out of the blue, Harris said Dr Jeffrey claimed
that all these while Sabah was being colonised by the Federal
Government.
"This is something new and a very serious allegation.
Therefore, and as such, it is important to go to the bottom of the
allegation by way of public debate in the interests of Sabahans," he
said.
Other conditions and issues raised by Dr Jeffrey were not worth
responding, he said, adding it was suffice to say that to solve any
problem or issue these days, it cannot be done by just simply dreaming.
"It appears that on his own admission, Dr Jeffrey wanted the
international bodies or communities to be involved in the proposed
debate, It shows that he adamantly refused to accept the existence of
Malaysia as a sovereign and independent country ruled by parliamentary
democracy, which is chosen every five years by the people. It is ruled
by the majority and it is for the people," he said.
Harris said the proposed debate is an open public debate and anyone can attend including foreigners.
Hopefully, he said the television stations would be attracted to televise the debate live from Kota Kinabalu.
Of course, the public would have the last say as to whether Dr Jeffrey's
allegations and accusations have any substance or not, he said.
Harris hoped Dr Jeffrey would forego his "unimaginable conditions and accept the open debate for the benefit of Sabahans."
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