The political crisis in Sabah, allegedly manufactured by certain parties, will fizzle out if Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim does not get involved!
Commentary And Analysis . . . Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was being faulted in the ongoing political crisis in Sabah, in the battle for seat-sharing in the state elections expected any time between now and October next year, because of the Sabah Mining Ordinance.
This colonial decree, in fact was no longer state law, but declared in Parliament as Federal Act. Colonial decree can only remain law if it becomes Federal statute.
The political crisis in Sabah, allegedly manufactured by certain parties, will fizzle out if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not get involved. The political crisis may yet prove itself as the Storm In The Tea Cup.
Sabah
Sabah, true to form since Malaysia Day on 16 September 1963, remains the proverbial tail that wags the dog in more ways than one. Much of this relationship revolves around the love of money, the root of all evil in Umno Sabah in particular, and other parties.
Retired Judge Datuk Hamid Abu Backer in fact discovered, before he was allegedly suspended for dissenting ruling, that the government was paying contractors before work was done. In any case, no work was done, even after payment was received. It was the tip of the iceberg as the ongoing Sabah political crisis and Water Department case in court shows.
Normally, the architect certifies the progress payments after work was done. The architect attaches pix of work done with the certification.
The contractor turns up at the bank, under the supervised credit formula, for payment.
It’s system that works if not tweaked for nefarious purposes.
Political Crisis
The local media has been delving into the ongoing political crisis in Sabah surrounding the release of whistleblower videos implicating politicians in purported corrupt activities in the form of entrapment which will be rejected by the court as unlawful. The whistleblower, at the same time, risks facing charges, being party for illegalities viz. being the self-confessed giver in the video evidence.
The strategic timing of the video releases suggests a calculated attempt to undermine the current government, particularly targeting the Hajiji Noor administration in Sabah.
The analogy drawn, in local media reports, between the billiards game and the intricate political maneuvers reflects the complexity and unpredictability of the situation.
The local media highlights the potential power struggle and the risks involved for various political players, emphasizing the high stakes involved in the game of politics being played out in Sabah.
The call by various quarters, including the opposition parties and factions within Umno that Hajiji step down, indicates the growing pressure on the government.
Umno Sabah
The local media brings attention to the internal dynamics within Umno Sabah and the potential implications of the ongoing political crisis on party alliances and electoral strategies.
The local media discusses the underlying motives behind the video releases, suggesting a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of certain political figures and destabilize the ruling coalition in Sabah.
By analyzing the selective targeting of specific YBs in the videos, the local media raises questions about the motivations and intentions driving the orchestrated releases.
Jeffrey Kitingan
The proposal for Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan to lead an interim government underscores the possible intricate power play and even shifting alliances within Sabah’s political landscape. Jeffrey has since denied that he may be the next Sabah Chief Minister although that has long been his dream in the quest for the mythical tataba (the magical wand of power) snatched in 1994 from Tun Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the elder brother.
The local media highlights the potential pitfalls and uncertainties associated with such proposals, indicating the complexities involved in navigating the current crisis situation.
The looming question of whether the Hajiji government will whether the storm of “Langkah Billiards” remains unanswered.
The local media points towards the historical precedence of external influences impacting Sabah’s political dynamics, hinting at the possibility of outside interference that could further complicate the state’s political future.
The local media provides a detailed account of the unfolding political drama in Sabah, shedding light on the motivations, strategies, and power dynamics at play within the state’s political sphere.
Through analysis, the local media offers insights into the complex web of interests and maneuvers shaping the current crisis and its potential implications for Sabah’s governance and political landscape.
Mustapha
Former Sabah Governor and Chief Minister Tun Mustapha Harun, it can be recalled, said in the media that the politics of Sabah would never be stable unless the government can make everyone rich. “Which government in the world can make everyone rich?” he asked.
It isn’t about about making everyone rich but removing the politics and corruption from poverty eradication schemes.
The focus should be on enlarging the consumer economy while managing the supply side of the economy by increasing local production and allowing imports from cheaper sources, on bilateral trade basis that keeps the US$ out of the picture.
All this needs people in government who can count in ways that include buying at a loss and selling at a profit or vice versa for strategic reasons. In speculative activities for example, based on caculated risk taking, what goes up will come down and what heads south will reverse course and go north. Again, within the ups and down, there are ups and downs
Loan Shark
The Sabah government, the history shows, can only borrow from big ah long (loan shark) Putrajaya. That remains relationship which has never changed since Malaysia Day on 16 September 1963.
Federal allocations for Sabah, in a case of creative accounting made possible under the Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can) Mantra, are handled directly by Putrajaya. The companies in Malaya get the bulk of the contracts and the cream. All this remains nothing but form of internal colonisation under big business as euphemism The long-suffering local companies get the crumbs if they have some local politicians with them.
He — read Putrajaya — who controls the purse strings rules Malaysia.
Then, there’s corruption, which remains separate issue in the form of plundering the public tressury viz. inflated government projects and work not done but money taken. Judge Hamid’s minority ruling refers.
Also, there are any number of “conmen” virtually sitting somewhere in between, also making money left and right probably through blackmail, for want of better term.
Bung Mokhtar
Having said that, it’s difficult for Umno Sabah’s Bung Mokhtar of “Pak Yu” fame in Parliament and wife who face corruption charges, while being allegedly involved in the political crisis in Sabah. He may have been rendered unsafe when the cake was not shared with people in the know. The case was also probably about getting him out of the way by using the court. There’s no abuse of the process of court although the case appears politically motivated.
In a way, it’s the same as former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s RM42m SRC International case on political donation, deemed by the court as “deriving personal benefit”, despite CSR (corporate social responsibility activities.).
Former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s RM380m case, proven by Prosecution as bribery and corruption, was at the same time deemed by the court as political donation. Ironically, he didn’t produce income tax receipts.
Many people, upset with Najib seeking freedom, hypocritically look the other way on the Musa Aman case on 46 bribery and corruption charges. It will be the height of insanity, even in “anything can happen in Sabah” if he becomes the next Governor.
Even Pairin, tipped as Governor, received RM1m political donation and/or bribery and corruption every year from the Water Dept contractor who took money from the government and did very little work or no work at all.
The Sabah watergate case continues in court. — NMH
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Longtime Borneo watcher Joe Fernandez has been writing for many years on both sides of the Southeast Asia Sea. He should not be mistaken for a namesake formerly with the Daily Express in Kota Kinabalu. JF keeps a Blog under FernzTheGreat on the nature of human relationships.
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