20 POINTS MUST NOT BE KEPT IN THE DARK – PKR

20 Points must not be kept in the dark – PKR

TAWAU May 29, 2012: The Sabah 20 Points is a very important and historic document to safeguard Sabah in the formation of Malaysia and should not be kept in the dark and brushed aside by anyone.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Tawau branch secretary Gan Chee Chan said the 20 Points document was not drafted at any ‘coffee shop’ as it is such an important document on the “terms and conditions” of Sabah to join and form Malaysia as equal partners.

“The people of Sabah at that time were consulted through the Cobbold Commission Report and for Salleh to say it is no longer valid betrays the aspiration of the people through the 20 Points,” he said yesterday when commenting on Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said Keruak’s statement on Saturday that the 20 Points ceased to exist and was no longer valid as it was already part of the Malaysian Constitution.

“I believe, any changes to the 20 Points must have the nod from the Sabah people. They should be consulted and leaders must not keep the people, especially the younger generation, in the dark,” he said.

He added the government of today must come clean and explain to the people what had transpired on the 20 Points after more than 40 years as the people have a right to know.

“Don’t keep the people guessing, what do the leaders have to hide from the people, have the leaders betrayed the people?” he asked.

Gan said if not for the internet technology, many Sabahans, especially the young, will not know about the 20 Points.

“It is as if it was erased from Sabah history. If it was honored, as a Sabahan, I believe Sabah will not be as poor as today and we will not have so many illegal immigrants and so many other problems as the points are there to safeguard us from being abused,” he said.

He said the people who know about the 20 Points feel that they are being ‘short-changed’ and cheated and the government of today must show seriousness and sincerity on the matter and not let it be forgotten or sweep it under the carpet whenever it is mentioned.

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Public debates are agreeable – PKR leaders

“A debate is a platform providing freedoms of expression and speech and PKR will support not only a debate but also the freedom of peaceful assembly. I believe Sabah STAR chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan should have a debate with former chief minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh specifically on the former’s contention that Sabah is being colonised by Kuala Lumpur,”

PKR youth chief Mohd Serman Hassnar

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“We should get the present government to debate on their policies on water, energy, immigration, RCI, NCR land or even Felda land, security, human rights, education, and let the people decide.

“A public debate of these issues should hide nothing if the government thinks it is doing the right thing in the interest of the people,”

Kota Kinabalu PKR divisional leader Christina Liew