I was merely speaking the truth, says Sipaun
March 11, 2011 Kota Kinabalu: Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said he is amused that certain quarters should lodge police reports for stating the truth based on his pleasant memories of life in Sabah during the colonial administration.
The former Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Vice President said that was his intention during concluding remarks at the panel discussion which he chaired at the United Borneo Front (UBF) Inter-Party Dialogue and Leadership Exclusive Seminar last Saturday.
"What is wrong for me to tell the people what I remembered of Sabah, then known as North Borneo, before Malaysia was formed I was 25 then and know what I was talking about," he said.
Sipaun was commenting on a report lodged against him by two Umno Tawau divisions over remarks which the divisions alleged were misleading and seditious and could "mislead" the people to go against the government of the day.
He said he did not say he was against the Malaysia Agreement, but only that life was better in the colonial days.
Sipaun had said that life in Sabah was considerably better in many aspects before Malaysia was formed compared to now. He said, admittedly, there was no development as seen today but that Malaya was not much better.
- "There was no racial problem. Mixed marriages were very common. That's why there are many 'peranakans' (babas and nyonyas) in Sabah.
- If Sabahans are now conscious of racial and religious divides, they learned from Semenanjung," he had said.
- "There were no illegal immigrants. There were no cases of Sabahans losing citizenship status while foreigners gained it without much difficulty.
- "There were no repressive and draconian laws such as the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Internal Security Act (ISA), the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, the Police Act and the Proclamations of Emergency."
- "There was no quarrelling over dead bodies. The composition of the civil service was multiracial.
- Meritocracy was appreciated, observed and practised. Corruption and 'ketuanan Melayu' were unheard of.
- The list continues how not to miss pre-Malaysia?" Sipaun noted.
Sipaun said there is no basis for him to retract or apologise for what he had said.
"Under the Constitutions, I have the liberty to express my opinion like them (Umno divisions) they disagree with what I have said and expressed their opinion, which I am quite happy," said Sipaun.
Sipaun, who is currently in Kuala Lumpur attending to official matters, he said he is also prepared to give his full cooperation to the police if warranted.
Yes, there is nothing wrong telling people what you remembered back then but such statement could mislead people into going against the government.
BalasPadamSamalah dengan Tun Mahathir. Sentiasa memikirkan perkara yang dulu-dulu.
BalasPadamsebaiknya jika semua pihak berusaha bergerak ke depan dan memajukan Negeri Sabah.
BalasPadamRakyat dapat menilai betul atau tidak apa yang telah dikatakan oleh Sipaun.
BalasPadamThose are the good ol' days. Not wrong to reminisce the past.
BalasPadamPendapat Sipaun kita tidak boleh katakan tidak juga. Itu pandangan seorang yang telah merasa keadaan Sabah dahulu. Apa pun kita perlu memikirkan pembangunan Sabah untuk masa sekarang.
BalasPadamitu hnya pendangan Sipaun, tapi kita boleh nilai dan lihat sendiri perubahan yang berlaku pada Sabah sebelum dan selepas menyertai Malaysia. dan kini adalah lebih baaik kita teruskan untuk membangunkan lagi negeri Sabah.
BalasPadamI am not going to deny he has some good points overthere.
BalasPadamsaya tidak tahu apa tujuan sipaun membuat kenyataan itu. sedarkah beliau tidak ada satupun negara di dunia ini yang wujud pada hari ini mempunyai ciri seperti ketujuh2 point yang beliau gariskan. jika beliau mahukan semua itu, beliau patut tubuhkan negara sendiri yang tidak ada langsung pembangunan, tidak ada undang2, tidak ada komunikasi dengan dunia luar atau segala yang ada pada hari ini..
BalasPadamadakah tujuan beliau itu untuk menyedarkan rakyat Sabah supaya bangkit memberontak bagi mengembalikan Sabah seperti sebelum 47 tahun yang lalu? kebiasaannya semua pemimpin atau rakyat di negara ini mahu supaya negara sentiasa maju ke depan, bukannya ke belakang. kalaulah sipaun dan pembangkang mengambil alih negeri Sabah, bersedialah rakyat Sabah untuk kembali ke zaman batu.
BalasPadamTakda salah memberitahu sesuatu maklumat jika ia utk penambahbaikkan, tapi jika utk mengeruhkan keharmonian, lebih baik tak payah cakap. huhu
BalasPadamLagipun, napa sekarang baru mau ungkit di kala negara semakin bergerak ke hadapan??? Takkan mahu undur balik???
BalasPadamApapun tujuan sipaun mengeluarkan kenyataan ini, terpulanglah pada penilaian rakyat sendiri. Saya yakin rakyat cukup matang dalam membuat penilaian.
BalasPadamTak dinafikan perkara ini patut diberi perhatian dan dilihat dari susut posistif... Namun, hal ni tak pelu diperbesarkan bagi mengelakkan ketegangan timbul.
BalasPadamApapun, kita tunggu dan lihat sajalah apa yang bakal berlaku seterusnya.
BalasPadamKita seharusnya berusaha maju ke hadapan, bukan selalu terbantut pada masa lampau.
BalasPadamThe truth? Iyalah, dulu-duluu....good old days mah...
BalasPadamdia seorang yang sentimental, biarlah dia...
BalasPadamDunia semakin berkembang, saya rasa anak-anak dia pun belajar jauh-jauh, kalau tidak ada duit mana mungkin dapat menampung semua perbelanjaan? Macam mana dapat pergi oversea? BIarlah, isu Sipaun tidak patut fokus sangat. Do good be good.
BalasPadamIsu yang dibangkitkan ini sudah lama berlalu, apa lagi yang boleh dibuat sekarang?
BalasPadam