STAR Sabah chief Jeffrey Kitingan and DAP Sabah secretary-general Dr Edwin Bosi were the only two who turned up for the first political debate this year themed 'Which party is the best alternative for Sabah?' on May 9.
It was organised by an NGO committee - Democracy Sabah or Desah headed by former Suhakam commissioner from Sabah, Simon Sipaun, to promote straight fights in every constituency in Sabah with the objective of promoting a two-party system.
"We are outnumbered by illegal immigrants. There are 1.7 million of them compared to 1.5 million locals.
"Where is the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) that was promised to look into this. We have made their stay very conducive.
"The Barisan Nasional exploited these people to stay in power. We will know how to make their stay less conducive so that they will move elsewhere," said Jeffrey (right).Dr Bosi exploited the opening, saying: "If you vote in Pakatan to form the next federal government, we promise to set up the RCI without delay and resolve NCR land matters."
Plumping alien issue depth
Both leaders from the opposition used the long festering illegal immigrants issue to touch base with the audience, pointing out that there were 1.7 million foreigners in Sabah's population of 3.2 million compared to only 1.5 million locals with the BN to blame for the situation of exploiting alien voters to stay in power.
Both debaters at the Dowish Restaurant hall in Penampang took pains to avoid personal attacks, spending more time running down the unrepresented BN over the long litany of ills plaguing the state.
Jeffrey started off by reminding Sabahans that they have only this one chance to play ‘kingmaker' in national politics by empowering state-based parties like STAR to regain lost state rights and to strengthen Sabah again, from currently being the nation's poorest.
"If not for Sabah and Sarawak, the BN would have lost power in the last election.
"Sabah and Sarawak can use our parliamentary seats collectively to decide who forms the next federal government. If you give the BN another two-third mandate, they will even make things worse.
"If STAR comes to power, we know what to do. We have original plans, not copied from elsewhere.
"We'll determine what is good for Sabah, not some people in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
He blamed the BN for using its long held two-third majority in Parliament to change the federation of Malaya, (Singapore which was ejected in 1965), Sabah and Sarawak into a KL-centric control freak authoritarian structure instead of a federation of (four) three equal consensual partners.
"Sabah was an independent autonomous country before it formed Malaysia with (Federation of) Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak.
"We have the twenty points that ensure our rightful status. We have the right to collect our taxes and oil revenue.
"We intend to pursue these promises to the highest level in the
international arena, including the United Nations. When we have the revenue, we know how to develop Sabah better," he said.Dr Bosi, twice booed by some Sabah nationalistic hotheads in the 200 strong crowd for professing to not know much about Jeffrey's Borneo agency and asking only for 20 percent oil revenue from the current five percent, quipped: "I should have brought more supporters. 20 percent is just a starting figure. We have to be realistic."
Promises on political plate
He started off by with a icebreaker - "How can you get to the STAR without the Rocket?" in reference to his party's credentials in fighting for a Malaysian Malaysia long before Najib's 1Malaysia.
"DAP is the only party which never joined the BN," Dr Bosi stressed.
It could have been a sly dig at Jeffrey's record of party hopping.
He tried hard to differentiate Pakatan Rakyat's appeal with that of the DAP's by saying that his party would ensure the realization of the two -party system whereas STAR stated that it would want to work with whichever coalition that formed the next federal government - be it PR or the BN.
As a parting shot in the pros and cons arguments between state based party and national based party with Sabahan involvement in the bigger picture, Dr Bosi ran the audience through the political history of Sabah when state based parties - Usno, Berjaya and PBS were in power.
He pointed out that these parties were among the culprits that had contributed to the erosion of Sabah's rights and status over the decades and urged the audience to embrace a coalition of friends that they may need, especially in Kuala Lumpur to make things right again for Sabah.
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